Betulaceae Betula papyrifera Marsh.

Paper Birch

Thompson - Other, Containers

Use documented by:
Turner, Nancy J., Laurence C. Thompson and M. Terry Thompson et al., 1990, Thompson Ethnobotany: Knowledge and Usage of Plants by the Thompson Indians of British Columbia, Victoria. Royal British Columbia Museum, page 189

View all documented uses for Betula papyrifera Marsh.

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Scientific name: Betula papyrifera Marsh.
USDA symbol: BEPAP (View details at USDA PLANTS site)
Common names: Paper Birch
Family: Betulaceae
Family (APG): Betulaceae
Native American Tribe: Thompson
Use category: Other
Use sub-category: Containers
Notes: Tough, waterproof bark used as a material for lining storage caches. The bark was particularly important in the storage of food. It could be stripped off in fall when it was quite papery and could be split into thin sheets. These were weighted down with rocks to flatten them and then used to line the bottoms of berry baskets to keep the baskets from getting stained. The bark was also placed between layers of dried salmon in storage and used in the storage of cooked roots such as lily corms.

RECRD: 32611 id: 7308

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