Observations on Paper Birch (publ. 2025-03-30)

Paper Birch bark is an assortment of colors that is a gradual blend from white to reddish-brown. The white bark is a milk-white. From what I can tell, all the old, loose bark, i.e., bark that hasn't been pealed away by some creature, but that has pealed off naturally, is white. The next color in the gradient is white with a hint of yellow, which seems similar to floral white or antique white on ColorHexa [https://www.colorhexa.com/color-names]. Next is orange, maybe Burnt Orange. Then a reddish-brown or Burgundy.

All throughout the bark are marks or short lines, which are all horizontal in orientation and parallel to each other, and scattered evenly but somewhat randomly as far as their vertical arrangement. The lines contrast at least somewhat with the surrounding bark. Many of the marks are a grey shade against white bark, and many are white shade against red bark. These lines or marks protrude slightly and feel like bumps.

The scars on the trunk are either a very dark brown, or a dark grey, or a vibrant Burgundy, or some mixture of the these colors.

It appears that, generally, new twigs and branches come off at about 45° from the parent branch or trunk. Old branches, however, tend to have a wider angle, or to curve down, as though their growth has been affected by the weight they bear.

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