A small, deciduous N temperate tree, often growing by water or in wet soils; leaves oval or rounded; male and female flowers on separate plants; male catkins long, pendulous; females short, erect, becoming woody and cone-like in fruit. (Genus: Alnus, 35 species. Family: Betulaceae.)
For other uses, see Alder (disambiguation).| ?Alder | ||||||||||||
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Alnus serrulata (Tag Alder) Male catkins on right, mature female catkins left Johnsonville, South Carolina |
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About 20-30 species, see text. The best-known species is the Common or Black Alder (A. The largest species is Red Alder (A. rubra), reaching 35 m (the tallest is 32 m) on the west coast of North America, with Black Alder and Italian Alder (A. By contrast, the widespread Green Alder (A. acuminata - Andean Alder. cordata - Italian Alder. Alnus formosana -Formosan Alder A. glutinosa - Black Alder. incana - Grey Alder. oblongifolia) - Arizona Alder. rugosa) - Speckled Alder. tenuifolia) - Thinleaf Alder or Mountain Alder. japonica - Japanese Alder. jorullensis - Mexican Alder. orientalis - Oriental Alder. rhombifolia - White Alder. rubra - Red Alder. serrulata - Hazel alder, Tag Alder or Smooth alder. subcordata - Caucasian Alder. maritima - Seaside Alder. nepalensis - Nepalese Alder. nitida - Himalayan Alder. viridis - Green Alder. sinuata, Sitka Alder or Slide Alder). This bacteria converts atmospheric nitrogen into soil-soluble nitrates which can be utilised by the alder, and favorably enhances the soil fertility generally. fallen alder leaves make very rich compost. Alder catkins are one of the first sources of pollen for bee species, especially honeybees, which use it for spring buildup. Alder is a preferred wood for charcoal making, formerly used in the manufacture of gunpowder, or for smelting metal ores, now used primarily for cooking. Italian Alder is particularly useful on dry, infertile sites. Alder is used as a food plant by some Lepidoptera species, see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Alders.
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