Home > Species > Birch > Birch regional collections of plus trees

Birch

Table 3 Regional Collections Of Plus Trees for Inclusion in Seed Orchards

Back to Birch page

text

Regional collection

Geographical area

No. of

plus trees

Year of collection /grafting

Status in 2007

Comments

Tayside

Glamis in east; Killin in West; Perth in South; Rannoch in North

47

2004

In polyhouse at NRS as 3- year-old grafts in pots with each tree replicated 4 times in a randomised layout Most plus trees archived at Bonskied Estate, Perthshire

A high proportion of good plus trees.  Trees tend to be located in stands of superior overall form. Includes 3 trees from slower growing populations at Rannoch.  Poor flowering in year 2.  Better flowering in year 3 with significant seed collected

Speyside/ Donside/ Deeside

Kingussie to Fochabers on the Spey; Braemar to Banchory on the Dee; mid-Donside; mid-Deveronside

42

2006

2-year-old grafts grown outside in pots at NRS

Tree form more variable than Tayside collection. Trees tend to be superior individuals in stands of moderate overall form. Seed sources in this region were fairly slow growing in provenance trials

Southern Scotland / Northern England

An area bounded by Rivers Clyde, Forth, Mersey and Humber

43 recorded to date

to be 2008

Plus tree form more variable than Tayside collection but similar to Speyside/Deeside/Donside. Trees tend to be superior individuals in stands of moderate overall form.

N. Scotland

(Great Glen)

Tomich southwards to Glen Garry.

~30

1993

Plants exist as archived material at FR NRS. 

A pilot collection made by FR in order mainly to test methodology.  Some good plus trees, others poorer.  Considerable numbers of plus trees from single stands.  Some seed entered trade and was tested in Scottish seed source trials (E10) and shown to be quite slow growing

t