Berkana

Berkanan is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name for the b-rune ᛒ, which means "birch." In the Younger Futhark, it is called Bjarkan in both the Icelandic and Norwegian rune poems. In the Anglo-Saxon rune poem, it is called beorc ("birch" or "poplar"). The corresponding Gothic letter is 𐌱 (b), called bairkan.

The letter's form is likely directly derived from the Old Italic B 𐌁, from which the Latin letter B originates.

Rune Poems

The rune is mentioned in all three rune poems:

Old Norwegian: Bjarkan er laufgrønstr líma; Loki bar flærða tíma.

• "The birch has the greenest leaves of all shrubs; Loki had luck with his deception."

Old Icelandic: Bjarkan er laufgat lim ok lítit tré ok ungsamligr viðr.

• "The birch is a leafy branch and a small tree, and a fresh young shrub."

Anglo-Saxon: Beorc byþ bleda leas, bereþ efne sƿa ðeah, tanas butan tudder, biþ on telgum ƿlitig, heah on helme hrysted fægere, geloden leafum, lyfte getenge.

• "The poplar bears no fruit; but without seeds, it brings forth suckers, for it is generated from its leaves. Magnificent are its branches and beautifully adorned its high crown, reaching up to the sky."