Betula kenaica Evans
Plant
This medium-sized tree has grayish white, pink, or reddish brown, papery bark. The outer layer of the bark flakes and peels easily. Kenai birch leaves, which turn yellow in the fall, are oval to almost triangular.
Medicine: Birch bark can be used to draw pus from boils and treat cuts, sores, and infections. People employ birch switches in the steam bath to relieve aches, pains, and fatigue and help people who are having trouble urinating.
Fuel: Birch is a valued fuel. Its hard wood produces a hot, long lasting fire. Some people use Kenai birch to smoke fish. Birch bark is good for starting fires.
Material: People used birch wood to make a variety of tools, including wedges, mauls, bowls, oars, and hammer and axe handles. They used birch bark to make containers, hats, and whistles and mixed birch bark ash with snuff (iqmik).
