Betulaceae -- comments
Comments: A fun family of trees and shrubs of the cold temperates to subartic regions of northern hemisphere. Often associated with streams, lakes or poorly drained areas.
Distinguished from others in the Hamamelidae by possessing pistillate flowers in catkins.
Well-known members include Betula (birch; flavoring for birchbeer), Alnus (alder), Carpinus (horn-beam, ironwood), Ostrya (hop-hornbeam), Corylus (hazelnut, filbert). Wood of some birches valuable for furniture, flooring and cabinetry. Bark of B. papyrifera was used by some N. American natives to make canoes. This papery bark makes getting fires started on camping trips alot easier too.