Betula alba, commonly known as downy birch, European white birch or hairy birch, is a species of deciduous tree,

native and abundant throughout northern Europe and northern Asia, growing farther north than any other broadleaf tree.

It is closely related to the silver birch but grows in wetter places with heavier soils and poorer drainage.

The tree is a pioneer species, readily colonising cleared land, but later being replaced by taller, more long-lived species.

The bark can be stripped off without killing the tree and the bark

and the timber is used for turnery and in the manufacture of plywood, furniture, shelves and wood flooring.

The inner bark is edible and it was ground up and used in bread-making in times of famine.

The rising sap in spring can be used to make refreshing drinks, wines, ales and liqueurs

and various parts of the tree have been used in herbal medicine.