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Glite Dictionary
Betula papyrifera

Betula papyrifera

8.3
A North American birch tree with white bark that peels easily and people use to make crafts
  • noun
  • /ˈbɛtʃʊlə pəˈpɪrɪfərə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : abeto de papel
  • The white bark of Betula papyrifera peels off easily and was often used by Indigenous peoples to make containers.

Examples

  • Many artists appreciate Betula papyrifera for its striking appearance in landscape paintings.

  • We saw a beautiful grove of Betula papyrifera along the edge of the lake.

  • Look at that stunning Betula papyrifera!

  • I love the beautiful Betula papyrifera trees.

  • The white bark of Betula papyrifera peels off easily and was often used by Indigenous peoples to make containers.

  • We saw a beautiful grove of Betula papyrifera along the edge of the lake.

  • Many artists appreciate Betula papyrifera for its striking appearance in landscape paintings.

Synonyms

paper birch
vsBetula papyrifera
  • US
5.3

A North American tree with white, peeling bark used to make baskets and canoes

is the scientific name for the same tree
paperbark birch
vsBetula papyrifera
  • US
8.6

A small North American tree with white bark that peels and is used for canoes and baskets

is the scientific name rather than this common variant
canoe birch
vsBetula papyrifera
  • US
6.7

A North American birch tree with white bark that peels and whose bark people use to make canoes and baskets

is the species name focusing on identity rather than cultural use
American white birch
vsBetula papyrifera
  • US
6.5

A small North American tree with white bark that peels, used for baskets and toy canoes

is the formal species name used for precise identification

Surface Forms

Betula papyrifera singular
Betula papyriferas plural

Morphology

Betula + papyrifera

This is a scientific Latin binomial: 'Betula' denotes the birch genus and the specific epithet 'papyrifera' literally means 'paper-bearing' (referring to paper-like bark). While the name is ultimately compositional (a birch with paper-like bark), it relies on Latin morphology and a specialized taxonomic convention that B1 learners normally do not know, so the relation is only partially accessible without prior exposure.

Etymology

Betula papyrifera is named from Latin words: Betula means 'birch' and papyrifera means 'paper-bearing', because its white bark peels off in thin sheets like paper. Local people used that peeling bark for containers and writing, so the name helps us remember it is the 'paper birch'.