birch

A slender, deciduous hardwood of the genus Betula — the pioneer tree, first to colonize disturbed ground, first to appear after fire or glacial retreat. Birch bark is waterproof, rot-resistant, and peels in papery sheets that were used for canoes, writing surfaces, and containers across the northern world. The white bark reflects sunlight and protects the thin trunk from overheating. Birch forests have a quality of light found nowhere else (though aspen stands have a similar vibe) — the pale trunks glow in low sun like columns in a cathedral with no roof.