Betula utilis Betula utilis Betula utilis (Himalayan birch, bhojpatra, "bhūrjá") is a birch tree native to the Himalayas, growing at elevations up to . The specific epithet, "utilis", refers to the many uses of the different parts of the tree. The white, paper-like bark of the tree was used in ancient times for writing Sanskrit scriptures and texts. It is still used as paper for the writing of sacred mantras, with the bark placed in an amulet and worn for protection. Selected varieties are used for landscaping throughout the world, even while some areas of its native habitat are being lost due
Crataegus Crataegus Crataegus (), commonly called hawthorn, quickthorn, thornapple, May-tree, whitethorn, or hawberry, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America. The name "hawthorn" was originally applied to the species native to northern Europe, especially the common hawthorn "C. monogyna", and the unmodified name is often so used in Britain and Ireland. The name is now also applied to the entire genus and to the related Asian genus "Rhaphiolepis". The Latin name "Crataegus" is from the Greek "kratos" "strength" and "akis" "sharp", referring