Along streambanks it is commonly associated with willows (Salix spp. Find the perfect red alder tree stock photo. Latin name: Alnus rubra Bong. Therefore, it appears The Red Alder is a medium sized tree, usually reaching 45-50ft but it in ideal conditions can be up to 90 ft. Red alder has the capability to fix atmospher-ic nitrogen, thereby enriching the soils for more climax tree species. In the Landscape: Although many consider Red Alder a “weed” tree because it will often invade landscapes, this tree is the first choice for ecological restoration. Provenances of red alder from the Cascade Mountains and British Columbia do well here. The trees can live to … The nutri­ents released from the rotting wood are taken up by plants, fungi, and animals, recy­cling the body of the alder tree … Recent clinical studies have verified that red alder contains betulin and lupeol, compounds shown to be effective against a variety of tumors.[11]. Alnus rubra hosts the nitrogen fixing actinomycete Frankia in nodules on roots. are found in the Betulaceae (birch family). Red alder is a medium-sized broadleaf tree that grows up to 24 metres. The cones become woody , first they are green and later dark brown to black. In the high mountains it is replaced by the smaller and more shrub-like Sitka alder (Alnus viridis subsp. The oval-shaped leaves have pointed tips and coarsely toothed edges that tend to curl under. Red Alder Tree, Vancouver Island, to learn more about Vancouver Island, visit http://www.askbud.ca This species is called red alder because the scraped or bruised tree barks develop a bright rusty reddish hue. It is distinguished from White Alder (A. rhombifolia) which has leaves that are green to yellow-green above and paler green below, and margins that are finely serrated or doubly serrated and not revolute. Because it is softer than other popular hardwoods such as maple, walnut and ash, historically alder has not been considered of high value for timber. Data Source and Documentation: About our new maps. The leaves are ovate, 7 to 15 centimetres (2.8 to 5.9 in) long, with bluntly serrated edges and a distinct point at the end; the leaf margin is revolute, the very edge being curled under, a diagnostic character which distinguishes it from all other alders. Sitka Alder: It has thin leaves and grows to about 25 feet in height at its full maturity. © Jost Benning 2004 - 2020 Imprint  privacy statement App-view, turn device for web-view. Red alder wood is moderately dense, and uniformly textured. Red alder is a member of the Betulaceae family. The seeds develop between the woody bracts of the 'cones' and are shed in late autumn and winter. Zone 0; Zone 1; Zone 2; Zone 3; Zone 4; Zone 5; Zone 6; Zone 7; Zone 8; Zone 9; A hardiness zone is a geographically defined area where a given plant is capable of growing. Tree Magick by Gillian Kemp . These are fast-growing trees and shrubs, so they can be used to help fill in a landscape and provide shade sooner than other species. maximum). Several finches eat alder seeds, notably common redpoll and pine siskin, and as do deer mice. The leaves on a red alder are tightly rolled under along the edges, while those on a white alder are more flat. It is restricted in Canada to a narrow band within 150 km of the Pacific coast. Female catkins are erect during anthesis, but otherwise pendant. but due to its workability and ease of finishing it is increasingly used for furniture and cabinetry. Hardiness zone(s) 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. Red alder are mature at 60 to … Alder bark is thin and gray, and although smooth, often has an abundant growth of lichens of several genera. Alder is monoecious, meaning each tree bears both male and female flowers. This self-fertilizing trait allows red alder to grow rapidly, and makes it effective in covering disturbed and/or degraded land, such as mine spoils. Alders add nitrogen to the soil in the manner of legumes, and decomposing alder leaves improve soil structure. is a deciduous broadleaf tree native to western North America (Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Montana). Habitat & Range Red alder is found in open areas, including areas of recent disturbance, like clearings, slide paths, or along streambanks. Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter. No need to register, buy now! It makes a wind firm and pleasant looking edge to coniferous mono cultures. Alder leaves, shed in the fall, decay readily to form a nitrogen-enriched humus. French name: Aulne rouge Synonym(s): Oregon alder , western alder Taxonomic Serial Number: 19474 183515 [syn. The systematics of the American species of Alnus. With a current inventory of about 7.4 billion cubic feet, red alder comprises 60 percent of the total hardwood volume in the Pacific Northwest, and is by far the most valuable hardwood in term of diversity of products, commercial value, and manufacturing employment. In addition to adding soil nitrogen, rotations of red alder are used to reduce laminated root rot (Phellinus weirii) in Douglas-fir forests. The lateral buds stick out. Of the ten species of Alnus native to the United States, red alder is the only one that reaches commercial size and abundance. Black Alder: Mostly found in Europe, this type of alder tree is known for its height. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T194598A2351803.en, Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map, "The value of red alder as an integrated pest management tool for controlling weevil damage to sitka spruce", Red alder management: Silviculture to marketing, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alnus_rubra&oldid=982919885, Trees of the West Coast of the United States, Articles with incomplete citations from July 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2009, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from April 2010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 11 October 2020, at 05:12. Alnus rubra are occasionally planted as ornamental trees and will do well in Swales, riparian areas, or on stream banks, in light-textured soils that drain well. rubra: Latin, red; inner bark is orange-red so wounds turn red. Red Alder wood is soft and even-grained and is used particularly for firewood, but Native Americans have used it for a variety of small items such as bowls and rattles. The tree likes sun to half-shade at the location and the soil should be sandy to loamy. The male flowers (catkins) are strikingly long, the female flowers are often upright. The flowers are small and creamy white clustered along a flower stalk (like a bottle-brush). Red alder is a deciduous tree native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. A. oregona Nutt.] Janka Hardness: 590 lb f … Furlow, J. The bark is mottled, ashy-gray and smooth, often colonized by white lichen and moss. The male and female flowers appear before the leaves and produce male and female hanging catkins. Eight species of alder are native to North America; Oregon has four: red, white, Sitka, and thinleaf, but only two commonly reach tree size - and only red alder … This alder is widespread and based in Alaska, North America and Western Canada. Red alder grows rapidly and is often found in sites rich in nutrients including stream banks. At 6 mm. It is also the most common and important of the hardwoods in the Pacific Northwest.Size, Longevity, and Form Mature red alder trees are typically 70 to 120 ft in height (130 ft maximum) and 10 to 34 in. Native: Introduced: Both ... Alnus Mill. If the roots are established, they can tolerate a little drought. Nurse stands of red alder may also reduce spruce weevil damage in Sitka spruce stands on the Olympic Peninsula [17] Alder continues to attract interest as log values approach and often exceed those of Douglas-fir. tenuifolia). Fallen alder logs make a dark, moist den for inver­te­brates, small mammals, and amphib­ians. Because of its oily smoke, A. rubra is the wood of choice for smoking salmon. [5][8], In southern Alaska, western British Columbia and the northwestern Coast Ranges of the United States, red alder grows on cool and moist slopes; inland and at the southern end of its range (California) it grows mostly along the margins of watercourses and wetlands.[9]. ANIMAL USES. Alder trees and shrubs (Alnus spp.) In moist forest areas Alnus rubra will rapidly cover a former burn or clearcut, often preventing the establishment of conifers. The leaves are ovate, pointed, and is about 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Leaf arrangement is alternate distinguish these two trees by their leaves the red alder also shows differentiation. Bruised or scraped bark a sharp toothed margin and the most common hardwood tree the. ( like a bottle-brush ) round crown several finches eat alder seeds, notably redpoll! 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