Sign up to our newsletter and receive 15% off your next online order | Free UK standard delivery over £50 *

The Genus Betula

Out of stock
SKU
108741

This Curtis's Botanical Magazine Monograph is the first published on the birches (genus Betula), the species of which have been notoriously difficult to identify.

Authors: Kenneth Ashburner, Hugh McAllister. 432pp. 244 x 182mm. 100+ colour illustrations, photos and maps. Hardback with jacket, ISBN 9781842461419. Kew Publishing, reprinted with corrections, 2016.

Birches or Betula are among the most attractive and common trees in the landscape and in gardens. Unfortunately, naming even the common white-barked birches can be difficult and many wrongly named trees can be found in nurseries and arboreta. Many species are also known for their autumn colour, including a major contribution to the fall colour in eastern North America. This is the first monograph published on the genus Betula, the species of which have been notoriously difficult to identify. The work is based on a study of herbarium specimens and living material of almost all species, which has only recently become available. Accounts are given of all known birches found in Europe, Asia and North America, both white and brown barked, and a key for their identification. The extensive fossil record and recent molecular work are reviewed and, together with new data not previously published, used to provide information for a discussion of what can be deduced of the evolutionary relationships of the species and species groups. From the authors' experience of growing and propagating almost all species, accounts are given of the cultivation requirements and landscape use of Betula species. With chapters covering breeding, cultivation, conservation, morphology and species descriptions, this is an invaluable tool for arboriculturalists and professional and amateur gardeners. And the full colour paintings by Josephine Hague make this ideal for lovers of botanical art.

The Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries Annual Awards: Nominated titles: 2014 awards

Media reviews:

Botanical Magazine Monographs, published by Kew, are a series of authoritative monographs, which continue the tradition of the oldest scientific journal in the world, blending botanical accuracy with horticultural information and fine illustration. The Genus Betula is no exception. John Grimshaw, Garden Design Journal

 

The late Kenneth Ashburner travelled widely in search of birches, to Japan, Korea, Russia, Siberia, the Himalayas, Canada and the USA and throughout Europe and Scandinavia. His specialist arboretum was awarded National Collection status for both wild origin birch and alder in 1994.

 Hugh McAllister lectured in botany at Glasgow, Newcastle, and Liverpool Universities and was Deputy Director at the University of Liverpool Botanic Gardens at Ness. For over 30 years he has been growing and studying birches in co-operation with Kenneth Ashburner. He is the author of The Genus Sorbus (Kew Publishing, 2005).

More Information
Product type Homeware
Write Your Own Review
Only registered users can write reviews. Please Sign in or create an account

United Kingdom

We offer FREE delivery on UK-only orders over £50. (This does not apply to our print-on-demand service)

Our other delivery costs are as follows:

  • UK Tracked Standard - £5 (delivery 3-5 working days from date of order)
  • UK Tracked Express - £8.95 (delivery 1-3 working days from date of order)

Please note there will be no postal collections from Friday 29th March to Monday 1st April.

Note: Mat Collishaw framed prints can take up to 2 weeks for delivery.

Age restricted products

If your basket contains age restricted products, our courier will request passport or driving license ID if the recipient looks under 25.

International and EU

International and EU orders are subject to variable postage costs calculated at checkout; these are dependent on the size and value of your order.

Orders to EU and International addresses may be subject to local customs duty or taxes. You will need to pay any additional charges for customs clearance, charges include local VAT and duty based on the value and origin of the product upon receipt of your order.

Weight restrictions: We are unable to ship orders where the total weight is over 2kg outside of the United Kingdom

Product restrictions: We are unable to ship seeds, plants, bulbs, inflammable products, food and beverages outside of the United Kingdom