全 文 ：Journal of Forestry Research, 13(3): 235-238 (2002) 235


Discussions on taxonomy of genus Betula in northeast China

ZHOU Yun-wei1, NIE Shao-quan2, ZHANG Yu-hong2
(1College of Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, P. R. China)
(2Key Laboratory of Forest Plant Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, P. R. China)

Abstract Many researches have been carried out on the taxonomy of Betula in northeast of China, but the classification of
species and subdivision of species had some divergences at all times, which led to a disorder for developing and utilizing
resources of Betula. In this paper, species and subdivision of Betula were classified not only according to the wax sample of
Betula but also the comprehensive taxonomy of population characters, geographical distribution, and the habitat. The
conclusion supported the Fu Pei-yuns’ (1995) viewpoint of the taxonomy of Betula in the northeast of China. But B.
mandshurica (Regel) Nakai should be considered as one single species, the name of B. platyphyla Suk.var phellodendroides
Tung should be the synonym of B. platyphyla var platyphyla, and B. ermanii Cham.var.yingkiliensis liou et Wang should be
incorporated into B. ermanii Cham. B. ovalifolia Rupr should not be regarded as a variety of B. fruticosa Pall. but as one single
species.
Keywords: Taxonomy; Betula; Northeast forest region
CLC number: S792.153, S718.49 Document code: A Article ID: 1007-662X(2002)03-0235-04



Introduction1

Northeast forestry region includes Heilongjiang, Jilin,
Liaoning provinces, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous
region. The total forested area of this region is 3.768×107
hm2, accounting for 32.7% of total forested area of China,
with a forest coverage rate of 30.4%, and timber-volume is
3.26×1010 m3, accounting for 35% of the total of forest
volume of China. Birch is a typical light demanding trees
species and can quickly occupy the open habitat. It is an
important resource of northeast of China. Each species of
Betula has formed specific morphological characteristics
because of the overlapping of mountains and flat ground
and the complication of the terrain and habitat. Thus many
researches were carried out on the Betula taxonomy and
the comprehensive development and utilization of birch
wood. Since 1907, many studies on the taxonomy of
Betula have been reported (Noda1971; Kuang 1979; Fu
1995; Chou 1986; Li 1988; Li 1991; Ma 1985; Komarov
1927; Kitagawa 1979; Hara 1937; Rehder 1939; Janson
1962). These studies mainly focused on the morphological
difference of birch and were thought as a base of the
classical plant taxonomy, but the description and
subdivision of Betula species diverged from each other
(see Table 1). As a result, it led to a disorder for
comprehensive developing and utilizing resource of Betula
tree species.
The former taxonomy of Betula commonly used the
types, wax sample, and original record, and less attention
was paid to individual and population. Up to now, there has
not been a powerful, reliable, quantifiable standard for

Biography: ZHOU Yun-wei (1970-), female, Ph. Doctor, lecture in College of
Landscape Architecture of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, P. R.
China.
Received date: 2002-04-03
Responsible editor: Song Funan
classifying the species of Betula, and the typical
morphological characteristics formed by species of Betula
and its habitat during their long evolution have not been
found. Furthermore, the methods of chemical taxonomy
and molecular system analysis have not been adopted on
taxonomy of Betula.
In this paper, species and subdivision of species of
Betula were classified not only depending on the wax
sample but also basing on the comprehensive taxonomy of
population characters, geographical distribution, and the
habitat.

Discussions

We made a long-term observation for population
morphological characteristics of each species of Betula in
different habitats and different geographical regions. By
colligating, inducting, and classifying the characteristics of
population and combining with wax sample, we identified
and determined the species and subdivision of Betula. Our
conclusion basically supported Fu Peiyun’s (1995)
viewpoint of the taxonomy of Betula in northeast of China,
but the taxonomy of the following species should be further
discussed.
1. B. mandshurica (Regel) Nakai should not be regarded
as a variety of, or belong to, B. platyphylla Suk. but as a
single species. Fig.1 shows the tree shape and
morphological characters of B. mandshurica.(Regel) Nakai
and B. platyphylla Suk.. B. platyphylla Suk. is an explosive
widespread pioneer tree species. It has wider ecological
diversity and stronger ability of sexual and asexual
reproduction. When the natural forest was destroyed, B.
platyphylla Suk. became the dominant species of
secondary woodland. Its morphological character is
complicated and distinctive. The population of B.
ZHOU Yun-wei et al. 236
platyphylla Suk. which usually grows in lower meadow
develops to a new single B. mandshurica (Regel) Nakai
population. The new population has obvious difference
from the original B. platyphylla Suk. in the morphological
characteristics of reproduction organ and vegetative
organs and habitat (see Table 2).

Table 1. Statistic of “species” of Betula recorded in the monograph.
Species
Komarov
(1927)
Liou
(1955)
Noda
(1971)
Kitagawa
(1979)
Fu
(1995)
Betula albo-sinensis Burk +
Betula ceratoptera G.H.Liu et Ma +
Betula chinensis Maxim. + + + + +
Betula chinensis Maxim. var.nana Liou +
Betula chinensis Maxim. f.linearisquama Hatusima +
Betula chinensis Maxim. f.nana (Liou) Kitagawa +
Betula costata Trautv. + + + + +
Betula costata Trautv. var. cuneifolia Kitagawa +
Betula davurica Pall. + + + + +
Betula davurica Pall. var. oblongifolia Liou +
Betula davurica Pall. . var. ovalifolia Liou +
Betula davurica Pall. var. Tiliaefolia Liou +
Betula ermanii Cham. + + + + +
Betula ermanii Cham. var. incisa Koidz. +
Betula ermanii Cham. var. lanata Regel + +
Betula ermanii Cham. var. macrostrobila Liou +
Betula ermanii Cham. var. yingkiliensis Liou et Wang + +
Betula exilis Suk. + +
Betula fruticosa Pall. + + + + +
Betula fruticosa Pall.subsp. gmelini(Bunge) Kitagawa +
Betula fruticosa Pall. subsp. ruptechtiana(Trautv.) Kitagawa + +
Betula fruticosa Pall. var. ruprenchtiana Trautv. +
Betula fruticosa Pall. var. fusenensis(Nakai) Liou +
Betula gmelinii Bunge + +
Betula gmelinii Bunge var. zyzyphifolia(C.Wang et Tung) G.H.Liu et Ma +
Betula humilis Schrank +
Betula latifolia Tausch. +
Betula liaotungensis Bar. +
Betula mandshurica (Regel) Nakai + +
Betula middendorffii Trautv. et Mey. + + + + +
Betula ovalifolia Rupr. +
Betula paishanensis Nakai +
Betula platyphylla Suk. + + + +
Betula platyphylla Suk. subsp mandshurica(Regel) Kitagawa +
Betula platyphylla Suk. var. phellodendroides Tung +
Betula schmidtii Regel + + + + +
Betula utilis D.Don +

Table 2. Contrast of morphological character and habitat of B.
mandshurica (Regel) Nakai and B. platyphylla Suk.
Species Leaf base Infructescence Habitat
B. platyphylla
Suk.
Light heart;
Flat cuneate
Length: 2.2-3.0 cm;
Width: >0.7 cm
Mountain
slope
B.
mandshurica
(Regel) Nakai
Broad cuneate;
Narrow cuneate
Length: 3.6-4.0 cm;
Width: <0.7 cm
Lower
meadow;
Flat land

2. B. platyphylla Suk. var. phellodendroides Tung should
not be classified as a variety of the B. platyphylla Suk.. The
specie name of B. platyphylla. Suk var. phellodendroides
Tung should be cancelled. The taxonomical characters of
this species are described as follows: smooth bark, thick
gray phellem, longitudinal split, dysgonic or congested
vellus hair on leaf stalk and leaf margin and the back leaf
vein, no glandular opaque spot on each side of a leaf,
broad cuneate leaf base. According to the characters
Journal of Forestry Research, 13(3): 235-238 (2002) 237
above mentioned, we investigated about one hundred
trees of B. platyphylla Suk. in Daxing’an Mountains.
Although these trees also had cambia, it is not the original
character of this birch stem. This tree suffered from the
ground fire, which led to cambia growth. Most of young
leaves and lower part of blade, in particular the young
leave of B. platyphylla Suk. developed by asexual
reproduction has setose trichomes. The setose trichomes
will drop down as leaf growth.



1--2. Betula mandshurica(Regel)Nakai 3--6. Betula platyphylla Suk
7. Betula .fruticosa Pall. 8. Betula.ovalifolia Rupr.

Fig.1 Morphological characters of Betula in northeast of China

3. B. davurica Pall should not be subdivided. The former
of subdivision of this species see Table 3. The differences
in morphological characters between B. davuric Pall. f.
oblongifolia Liou, B. davurica Pall. f. tiliaefolia Liou, and B.
davurica Pall. f. ovalifolia Liou reflected the difference in
morphological characters of interspecies population and in
habitats. B. davurica Pall. mainly grows on hill top, sunny
slope of mid hill, and dry land and mixes with Quercus
mongolia Fisch et. Turcz. The thickness and nutrient
conditions of soil have difference in different place, which
lead to the difference of leaf morphology. Since this
difference of morphology cannot inherit, it is not proper to
ZHOU Yun-wei et al. 238
classify subdivision of B. davurica Pall.


Table 3. Typical characteristics of B. davuric Pall. f. oblongifolia Liou, B. davurica Pall. f. tiliaefolia Liou, and B. davurica Pall. f.
ovalifolia Liou
B. davurica Pall. f. oblongifolia Liou B. davurica Pall. f. tiliaefolia Liou B. davurica Pall. f. ovalifolia Liou
Leaf prolate spheroidal;
Small character long round;
Lance-shape; 4.5-6.5×2-4 cm;
Leaf base round or cuneate;
Leaf broad ovate;
Leaf margin rough crenate
Leaf ovate; Small;
2.5-4×2-4.5 cm or 3.5-8×2-5 cm,
Leaf base round

4. B. ermanii Cham. var. Yingkiliensis Liou et Wang
should not be regarded as a variety. It should be
incorporated into B. ermanii Cham. The typical
morphological characters of B. ermanii Cham. var.
Yingkliensis Liou et Wang leaf are as follows:
infructescence is roundness, bigger, with a long petiole of
more than 1 cm; branch of fruit, both sides of leaf, and
petiole have setose trichomes; extremitas of leaf is
sharp-tipped; no acuminata. These characters were used
to identify B. ermanii Cham. var. Yingkiliensis Liou et wang
as a variety. According to our investigation, all above
characters have marked difference in morphology in the B.
ermanii Cham. population, even though in the same plant.
5. B. ovalifolia Rupr should not be regarded as a variety
of B. fruticosa Pall. but as a single species. B. ovalifolia
Rupr and B. fruticosa Pall. have significant differences in
the morphological characters of leaf and fruit and in
geographical distribution. The viewpoint of Kuang Keren
and Li Peiqiong (1979) thought B. ovalifolia Rupr. was an
independent species are correct (see Table 4). According
to the characters of shape, differences in reproductive and
vegetative organs, and geographical distribution, B.
fruticosa Pall. and B. ovalifolia Rupr. should be considered
as different species.

Table 4. The characteristics of B. fruticosa Pall. and B. ovalifolia Rupr.
Species Leaf shape Fruit shape Distribution
B. fruticosa Pall.
Gypseus back, no hair or little hair on vein, no
glandular spot or inconspicuous glandular spot
Short extended fruitage lobe North of Daxing’an Mountains and
Xiaoxing’an Mountains
B. ovalifolia Rupr.
Green white back, dense hair, conspicuous
glandular spot
Short erect fruitage lobe
East and North of Xiaoxing’an
Mountains


References

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Chinese Abstracts iii
13(3): 221-223.
在 黑 龙 江 省 小 兴 安 岭 东 部 地 区 (东 经 44º4´ -47º26 N ,´北纬
26º33´ -131º41´ , 海拔 400-1000 m), 对不同封育时间、不同坡向的
蒙古栎林中的主要乔木树种径级结构进行分析。在阳坡，针对封育 5
年 16 年和 24 年蒙古栎种群 , 分别选择 6 个重复样地。在阴坡，也同
样分别选择 6 块样地。每块样地的面积为 20 m×20 m。在每块样地
中， 测量各树的胸高直径，树高和冠幅直径。结果表明：在封育 5
年样地内，蒙古栎、糠椴和黄榆种群的数量均随着径级的增加而单调
下降，表明均为增长型种群；在封育 16 年以后，由于林内乔木层的
盖度较大，糠椴和黄榆种群均呈不同程度的衰退，已经成为蒙古栎种
群的伴生种群；封育 24 年样地中，蒙古栎种群明显成为优势树种。
在阳坡随封育时间延长乔木层盖度增长较快，而阴坡乔木层盖度增长
较慢；糠椴和黄榆种群随封育时间延长逐步衰退的现象在阳坡比阴坡
表现明显。图 2表 1参 8。
关键词：封山育林；蒙古栎林；径级结构

热处理木材及其在欧洲的发展/谢延军，刘一星，孙耀星 （东北林业
大学材料与工程学院，哈尔滨 150040） //Journal of Forestry
Research.-2002, 13(3): 224-230.
有效的利用木材资源是一个令人们关注的重要课题，尤其是在森
林覆盖率低的国家。由于环保意识的增强，人们对木材的功能性改良
越来越多地侧重于采用物理处理方法。在这样的背景下，木材热处理
在许多发达国家迅速的蓬勃发展起来，尤其是在欧洲。欧洲许多国家
的科研机构和生产企业都进行了大量的研究，一些大的木材热处理厂
也相继建立。本文回顾了木材热处理技术的发展历程，列举了热处理
木材在以荷兰、德国、法国和芬兰为代表的欧洲国家中的工业化现状，
总结了热处理材性能改善的原因、环境特性以及性能和用途。图 2 参
26。
关键词：热处理木材；耐腐性能；尺寸稳定性能；力学性能；工业化
生产

我国森林生态学研究的现状及其思考 /王庆礼，邓红兵（中国科学院沈
阳应用生态研究所，沈阳 110016），王绍先，李杨（吉林省长白山自
然 保 护 区 管 理 局 ， 白 河 134500 ） //Journal of Forestry
Research.-2002, 13(3): 231-234.
森林生态学是研究森林及其与环境间相互关系的科学，森林生态
系统作为陆地生态系统中一个重要类型和组成部分，对自然环境和人
类的作用是明显的，在实现可持续发展中具有不可替代的作用。由于
森林生态系统的复杂性和研究手段的相对滞后，目前森林生态学研究
虽然取得很大的进展并成功应用于林业实践，但也存在一些问题。本
文简要回顾和评述了我国森林生态学的发展和研究现状，着重指出目
前研究中存在的不足，并结合现今森林生态学的发展趋势以及我们相
关研究基础对森林生态系统的结构和功能研究、森林生态系统管理、
森林流域生态学研究、森林生态系统健康等进行了讨论。参 21。
关键词：森林；生态系统；森林生态学；结构和功能；管理；健康；
流域

中国东北林区桦木属（Betula）分类探讨/周蕴薇（东北林业大学园林
学院，哈尔滨 150040），聂绍荃，张玉红（东北林业大学森林植物生
态学教育部重点实验室，哈尔滨 150040） //Journal of Fore stry
Research.-2002, 13(3): 235-238.
许多学者先后对东北林区桦木属的分类进行了深入研究，对种及
种下分类等级意见至今不一致，给综合开发利用桦木类群资源造成了
混乱。笔者经多年深入林区实践、调查、采集标本，结合种群特征、
地理分布、生境特点综合分类，不以蜡叶标本作为唯一依据，鉴定了
桦木属种及种下等级，基本上同意傅沛云（ 1995）对东北林区桦木属
的分类。但笔者认为东北白桦（B.mandshurica(Regel) Nakai）应
视 为 独 立 种 ， 取 消 栓 皮 白 桦 （ Betula platyphylla Suk.var.
phellodendroides Tung ） 名 称 及 英 吉 里 岳 桦 （ ermanii
Cham.var.yingkiliensis liou et Wang）名称，卵叶桦（ Betula
ovalifolia Rupr ）不应该降为柴桦变种（Betula fruticosa Pall.），
仍为独立种。图 1表 4参 10。
关键词：东北林区；桦木属；分类

红喉歌鸲在韩国雪岳山国立公园大青峰地区的生境选择 /任信在，许位
行，李昌培，朴容秀，崔瑞允，李宇新（汉城大学校，山林资源学科，
水原 441-744，韩国）//Journal of Forestry Research.-2002, 13(3):
239-240.
自2001年5月至10月间，在韩国雪岳山国立公园大青峰地区进行
了红喉歌鸲（ Luscinia calliope）的生境选择研究。繁殖种群的调查
结果表明，该研究地区可分成此种鸟的高、中、低3种密度分布区。
红喉歌鸲多选择岳桦（Betula ermanii）和雪松（Pinus pumila）林
为其栖息地，并喜欢在矮丛林和稠密灌丛中活动。表1参9。
关键词：红喉歌鸲；南韩；植被结构

笼养东北虎（Panthera tigiris altacia）的行为观察 /滕丽微（中
国科学院动物研究所，北京 100080），李枫，刘振生（东北林业大学，
哈尔滨 150040）//Journal of Forestry Research.-2002, 13(3):
241-244.
从 1998 年 3 月至 2001年 3 月，采用全事件取样法和焦点动物
取样法对哈尔滨动物园的 4 只笼养东北虎（1 雄 3 雌）进行了系统的
行为观察。笼养东北虎的行为可以分成 5 种主要的方式：运动、卧息、
睡眠、取食和其他行为（饮水、排尿、修饰、嬉戏和站立）。在所有
的行为类型中，睡眠和运动所占的比值很高（占整个时间分配的
75.18%）；而卧息、取食和其他行为仅占 24.82%。除了取食，一只
雄性和其中两种雌性东北虎的其他 4 种主要行为具有相似的活动规
律，在白昼和夜晚各有一个活动高峰；而另外一只雌性东北虎在夜晚
则具有两个活动高峰期。表 2参 16。
关键词：东北虎；笼养；行为；个体

利用计算机视觉对苗木自动分级的研究 /杨延竹，赵学增，王伟杰，吴
羡（哈尔滨工业大学，哈尔滨 150001） //Journal of Forestry
Research.-2002, 13(3): 245-249.
苗木分级是提高造林苗木成活率的一个重要手段，对植树
造林、绿化环境有十分重要的意义。本文在对目前苗木自动分
级文献理解和综合的基础上，首先通过对苗木分级技术和分级
理论的研究，揭示了自动分级技术的发展背景和理论基础。进
而对苗木形态参数的光电测量和计算机视觉测量等自动测量方
法进行了分析和研究，阐述了现有的苗木自动分级系统所采用
的分级理论和方法，并对其性能进行了概要的评述。最后，基
于对苗木自动分级问题的理解，提出了苗木自动分级方法的一
些展望。参 31。
关键词：苗木分级；自动；形态特征；计算机视觉