birch

Any of a group of slender trees with small leaves and fine, peeling bark. About 40 species are found in cool temperate parts of the northern hemisphere. Birches grow rapidly, and their hard, beautiful wood is used for veneers and cabinet work. (Genus Betula, family Betulaceae.)

Paper birch (Betula papyrifera) is native to the northern half of North America.

Betulinic acid, a compound found in birch bark, was discovered by US researchers 1995 to kill melanoma (cancerous) cells in the skin whilst leaving healthy cells unharmed.