Alder

Alnus

Alder trees have smooth bark and can grow near water! They have lovely green leaves that provide shade.

Habitat: Wetlands and riverbanks

Appearance

The Alder has rounded, toothed, dark green leaves and small, distinctive woody 'cones' that remain on branches through winter. Its bark is smooth and grey, becoming fissured with age, and it often grows with multiple trunks.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFagalesFamilyBetulaceaeGenusAlnus

Alder

Interesting facts

Alder trees produce both male and female flowers on the same tree!

Alder wood turns orange when cut and is super water-resistant!

Its wood was used to build foundations for Venice, the city on water!

Native Americans used alder bark to make red and orange dyes!

Special abilities

Alder has roots that can thrive in wet, marshy ground, allowing it to colonize damp areas where other trees struggle to grow.

Alder can regrow vigorously from its stump if cut down, a powerful ability that allows it to quickly recover from damage or harvesting.

Measurements & details

Height: 15-30 m
Canopy Spread: 8-15 m
Edible: No
Trunk Diameter: 30-100 cm
Lifespan: 50-120 years
Fruit Type: Small woody cones
Growth Rate: Fast
Leaf Type: Deciduous

Ecological connections

symbiotic with

Frankia bacteria

Frankia alni

helps fix nitrogen for the tree

eats

Alder leaf beetle

Agelastica alni

feeds on alder leaves

eats

Moose

Alces alces

browses on young alder shoots and bark

eats

Eurasian Siskin

Carduelis spinus

feeds on tiny alder seeds

symbiotic with

Alder Milkcap

Lactarius tabidus

forms mycorrhizal associations with roots

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Nitrogen Fixing

Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.

Shade Tolerant

Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.

Broadleaf Tree

Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.