The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Birch \Birch\ (b[~e]rch), n.; pl. Birches (-[e^]z). [OE.
   birche, birk, AS. birce, beorc; akin to Icel. bj["o]rk, Sw.
   bj["o]rk, Dan. birk, D. berk, OHG. piricha, MHG. birche,
   birke, G. birke, Russ. bereza, Pol. brzoza, Serv. breza, Skr.
   bh[=u]rja. [root]254. Cf. 1st Birk.]
   1. A tree of several species, constituting the genus
      Betula; as, the white or common birch (Betula alba)
      (also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch
      (Betula glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (Betula
      papyracea); the yellow birch (Betula lutea); the black
      or cherry birch (Betula lenta).
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The wood or timber of the birch.
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   3. A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging.
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   Note: The twigs of the common European birch (B. alba), being
         tough and slender, were formerly much used for rods in
         schools. They were also made into brooms.
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               The threatening twigs of birch.    --Shak.
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   4. A birch-bark canoe.
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   Birch of Jamaica, a species (Bursera gummifera) of
      turpentine tree.

   Birch partridge. (Zool.) See Ruffed grouse.

   Birch wine, wine made of the spring sap of the birch.

   Oil of birch.
      (a) An oil obtained from the bark of the common European
          birch (Betula alba), and used in the preparation of
          genuine (and sometimes of the imitation) Russia
          leather, to which it gives its peculiar odor.
      (b) An oil prepared from the black birch (Betula lenta),
          said to be identical with the oil of wintergreen, for
          which it is largely sold.
          [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

Betula glandulosa
    n 1: small shrub of colder parts of North America and Greenland
         [syn: Newfoundland dwarf birch, American dwarf birch,
         Betula glandulosa]