Cherry birch (Betula lenta) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 11
Special significance of the species
This single population of cherry birch is likely an extension from its more abundant occurrence in New York State and to the east. It could well have been more common in the Niagara peninsula before land was cleared for agriculture and human settlements. However, its absence in other protected potential habitats such as the Niagara Glen suggests that it may have always been an isolated occurrence.
There is the possibility that early settlers brought this species with them and planted it, or that First Nations people brought it from across the Niagara River. However, being on a natural slope not far from natural populations in New York and one tree being recorded as 95 cm dbh before its demise suggests that it may have been of considerable age, likely more than 200 years (based on the growth rate of remaining trees). Its growth from 1976 (Honour Roll measurement of 92 cm; Ontario Forestry Association [OFA], 2005) to 1984 (95 cm) was 0.1875 cm of radius per year; extrapolating back would put it at 253 years old. Growth rates from three cored trees in New York ranged from 0.12 to 0.16 cm radius per year, a slightly less rate than the above calculation, thus this estimate appears reasonable and possibly conservative.
Early settlers used this species for its wintergreen oil that could be extracted from twigs. The oil was used externally to alleviate the pain of sore muscles; the bark has astringent properties and was used in treating wounds (numerous web sites provide information on herbal uses, e.g., Holisticonline, 2005). First Nations had many uses for this species, using leaves, twigs and bark for a number of curative purposes. Thefibrefrom the bark was used in buildings and canoes, while the bark was used for storage containers as well as ceremonially for placing on top of coffins while burying the dead (Moerman, accessed October 2004).
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