Family name:
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Birch family |
Scientific name:
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Betula pendula Roth |
Family name latin:
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Betulaceae |
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| Description: |
Reaching up to 30 m of height and 120 years of age, the tree branches out towards the crown; young branches glistening reddish-brown, with many warty resin glands; leaves triangular to rhombic, entire at the base, biserrate towards the tip; male flowers winter in catkins; pollen plant for bees; the female catkins develop with the leaves; anemogamous ; flowering season : IV - V (central bloomer); the fruits ripen in July and become small winged nuts; the young trunk has a glossy golden-brown bark, which turns white, smooth and striped crosswise with cork; older trees with an irregularly cracked, dark outer bark; wood white and without duramen, used for shingles, furniture, veneers and for turned woodwork; as early as the Stone Age, a universal glue was achieved by heating the white bark under airtight conditions (= birch pitch; used in medicine against rheumatism and sciatica complaints). Brush wood used to be made into brooms. The rising sap can be processed into wine and hair tonic; finally, a medicinal tea against disorders of the lower urinary tract and rheumatism.
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| Occurence: |
Widely found in ruderal areas (regenerating timber), cutovers, sparse hardwood and pine forests, on bogs, rough grazing land and heathland up to 1800 m;
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| Related species: |
Betula pubescens Ehrh; in forests, bogs and swamps (IV - V); Betula humilis Schr.; in lowland moors and alder fens (IV - V); the genus betula tends towards hybridization;
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| Allergy trigger: |
Pollen, 20 - 25 µm;
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| Invasions path: |
Inhalative (March - July); ingestive (spring honey);
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| Synonyms: |
Betula verrucosa Ehrh.; European White Birch;
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| Allergology: |
Chief tree pollen allergen; as a rule, a simultaneous sensitization against herb and grass pollen is evident. Alder, hasel, beech, oak, chestnut and partially ash pollen are cross-reactive. Because of a common epitope in certain proteins, this pollen allergen forms an antigen community with nuts (hazel-nut, walnut, brazil-nut and almond), pome fruit (apple, pear), stone fruit (cherry, plum, peach, apricot), vegetables (potato, carrot, celery, raw tomato) and kiwi. An exposure to birch pollen during the neonatal period of human development also constitutes a predisposing risk factor for a later sensitization against birch pollen.
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| Immunology: |
Primary allergen: Bet v I, MW 17,000; additional allergens: Bet v II, MW 14,000 Bet v III, MW 20,000
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| Clinical relevance: |
heavy
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| Cross reactivities: |
Occurrence frequently- Curry
- Beech, Common
- Oak, english
- Alder, common
- Ash, common
- Cob, hazel
- Chestnut, sweet
- Carrots
- Tomato
- Celery
- Kiwi
- Apple
- Pear
- Hornbeam, common
Occurrence possible- Peach
- Chamomille, German
- Orange
- Parsley
- Elm, Scotch
- Olive
- Rye-grass
- Rape, oilseed
- Mugwort
- Potatoes
- Aniseed
- Soy bean
- Timothy
- Lychee
- Banana
- Mango
- Pepper
- Caraway seed
- Coriander
- Paprika, condiment
- Fennel seed
- Hazelnut
- Cherry
- Latex
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