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Alder

ALDER

Alnus glutinosa

Alder leaf
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 Alnus glutinosa is a deciduous tree which prefers wet ground and can reach up to 20 m in height. The yellow green male and small red female flowers appear before the leaves and can be on the same tree. Leaves are alternate and ovate 10cm long 7.5cm across, toothed, dark green and smooth above with a tuft of hair in the vein axils beneath. Its fruits are clusters of woody cone like catkins, which are green turning to brown and stay on the tree throughout winter. The seeds are nut like with narrow cork  wings which help it keep afloat on water.

Alder wood is yellow when seasoned  and was favoured by clog makers because of its durability, it is still used for shoe soles and broom handles today.

alder_s .gif (11829 bytes)Collect seed cones from the tree from September onwards,once they show signs of opening. Keep them in a warm place and the scales will open fully and release the seeds. Sow the seeds in early spring allowing at least 4 weeks in the cold prior to sowing.

 

Superstition proclaims that the tree was embodied with a malign spirit, because when cut it takes on a blood-orange tinge as if bleeding.

 

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