<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><!DOCTYPE Zthes SYSTEM "http://zthes.z3950.org/xml/zthes-05.dtd">  <Zthes><term><termId>31467686</termId><termName>Betula papyrifera</termName><termType>PT</termType><termNote><![CDATA[ Species of fast growing, short-lived, ornamental, shade, and timber tree native to northern and central North America, typically around 18 meters (60 feet) in height, with a brown bark that whitens over time and peels into paper-thin layers marked by narrow horizontal pores or lenticels. On the copper-colored inner bark, the pores are bright orange. Short, pendulous branches and numerous flexible twigs create a lacy silhouette in winter. The close-grained, almost white wood is used for turned articles, flooring, furniture, woodenware, pulp, and fuel. North American Indians used the thin, water-impervious bark for roofing, canoes, and writing material (thus the name "paper birch"). It is a pioneer species after fire. The sap is boiled down to produce birch syrup. The tree is known in several varieties. ]]></termNote><termCreatedDate>2026-03-30 21:05:56</termCreatedDate><relation><relationType>UF</relationType><termId>31467691</termId><termName>paper birch</termName><termType>ND</termType></relation><relation><relationType>UF</relationType><termId>31467687</termId><termName>American birch</termName><termType>ND</termType></relation><relation><relationType>UF</relationType><termId>31467688</termId><termName>American silver birch</termName><termType>ND</termType></relation><relation><relationType>UF</relationType><termId>31467689</termId><termName>American white birch</termName><termType>ND</termType></relation><relation><relationType>UF</relationType><termId>31467690</termId><termName>canoe birch</termName><termType>ND</termType></relation><relation><relationType>BT</relationType><termId>31454693</termId><termName>Betula</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation><relation><relationType>RT</relationType><termId>31470064</termId><termName>paper birch</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation></term>  </Zthes>