Deciduous tree with cones. Alder: description - types and uses

Despite the fact that there is still snow on the street, alder is blooming - a photo of a tree and leaves of which speak of the imminent warming and the onset of spring.

The flowers are rather inconspicuous, and the leaves bloom only after flowering.

However, the tree always pleases the eye with its beauty and rich hues.

Feature and description

Alder belongs to the birch family, reaches 20 m in height. It has alternate, toothed leaves.

plant blooms in early spring before the leaves bloom, pollinated by the wind. The flowers of the tree resemble earrings, and the fruits are single-seeded nuts with two wings.

It's important to know: the tree has a widely branched root system, so it can be used to fix ravines and rivers.

The tree has a slender trunk covered with smooth bark. Alder leaves remain green even in late autumn and fall off only with the onset of frost.

growing environment

Alder grows in swamps, in places with high humidity, near rivers and reservoirs. Most often found in the Urals, Western Siberia, forest and forest-steppe zone of the European part of Russia.

Alder's neighbors can be oak, linden, aspen, birch, as well as spruce trees.

Kinds

Around the world, there are about 40 species of wood. Only a few of them are common in our state, the most popular of which are gray and black alder.

gray alder

This species is distinguished by an uneven trunk and bark. gray color. It can reach 20 meters in height. The flowering period can be determined by the presence of brownish earrings. The foliage is grayish in color, slightly pointed at the top.

The tree is resistant to frost and strong wind. Due to its unpretentiousness, it feels great even on poor soil. by the most an important factor is enough sunlight.

black alder

The plant has a dark bark with cracks formed, the leaves are distinguished by an obovate shape.

This species grows up to 35 m, loves moisture and running water, will not grow in a swamp. Black alder is famous for its pink wood with a smooth overflow, due to which it is widely used for industrial purposes.

Interesting to know: The black alder species got its name due to the shiny sticky leaves and black bark.

In addition to these species, in the east of Russia you can find green, Siberian, fluffy and shrubby alder.

cultivation

The plant is unpretentious, so planting is possible anywhere, including sandstones. The tree has the ability to fertilize the soil with environmentally friendly nitrogen.

Planted in the usual way during the vegetative period. The cones of the plant must be collected in autumn time and store on fresh air until they open up.

Seeds are separated using a sieve, after which they can be planted immediately or set aside for the time being. Seeds can be stored for no more than 4 months at t ° 1-5 ° C.

When planting, in order for the tree to take well, it is recommended to prepare a certain substance.

For gray alder:

• sand;
• turf;
• peat;
• lime - 200 g;
• Kemira wagon - 150 g.

For black alder:

• sand;
• peat;
• humus;
• kemira - 150 g.

Everything needs to be mixed in special proportions, which can be found at specialized points.

Care

Alder should be watered only during the dry season, after which you need to loosen the soil. From time to time, you need to loosen the soil so that the earth is not overly clogged.

Good to know: young seedlings need additional moisture, regardless of the weather.

The plant needs mulching. To do this, it is better to use peat or wood chips, laid in a layer of 5 cm.

Pests and diseases

Corrosive woodworm pests are of great danger to alder, their larvae eat young shoots and tree bark.

The female catkins of the plant can be affected by a fungus of the genus Tafrina, after which leaf-like growth is observed in the scales.

Mushroom of the genus Taphrin

Take note: the affected branches, as a rule, cannot be saved, and they are simply cut off.

There are also fungi that grow on the leaves themselves, due to which they are covered with spots, and the surface becomes wrinkled. Fungi and other destructive organisms are destroyed by the use of poisons.

reproduction

The culture multiplies quite quickly. In a year, shoots from stumps can grow several meters.

Over time, growing, they form impenetrable jungle. Despite this, the plant mainly propagates by seed.

The tree is pollinated in the spring with swelling and stretching of the earrings, releasing a lot of yellow pollen out.

Keep in mind: alder propagates by cuttings, seeds and offspring, depending on the type of plant.

Fertilization occurs when the pollen reaches the red female flowers on nearby trees. After a while, cones with plant seeds are formed in them.

Application

Alder has a fairly wide application in various industries, namely:

• the production of musical instruments, since the material does not form cracks during drying;
• when in contact with water, wood becomes more durable, therefore it is used to build wells or barrels;
• production of decorative furniture due to beautiful color and texture;
• when smoking meat and fish, it is preferable to use the wood of the plant;
• the black look is used to make dyes for cloth and leather.

It is important: alder is widely used in medicine. Cones and tree bark are recommended to be applied to a sore spot. Also, on their basis, decoctions and alcohol infusions are prepared. Baths with the leaves of the plant will help relieve tired legs and have a relaxing effect.

Alder has many characteristics and useful properties, in connection with which wood is increasingly used in the manufacture of various items, as well as for the treatment of various kinds of ailments. It is widely used in industry, due to its ease and pliability in processing, without forming serious defects.

About the holy alder tree, see the following video:

They will protect the harvest from bad weather, and people from diseases and dark forces.

Alder found in the forest and forest-steppe zones of Russia and Western Siberia on the banks of lakes, rivers and swamps.

Alder names

Alder has many names that came from the people: wilkha, eloha, forester, oleshnik. The generic name Alnus is the Latin name for black alder, derived from the Celtic words Al (at) and Lan (shore). It was also found among the Roman writers Pliny and Vetruvius.

Where does alder grow?

Alder prefers the rich wet soils, but may occur in dry or clay soils. Sometimes it grows in a real quagmire, where a person is not able to pass.

Alder is able to change life forms from living conditions: trees or shrubs. AT middle lane In Russia, two types are most widely encountered: Alder gray and Alder black(adhesive).

Black alder is included in the Red Books of Russia, Kazakhstan and Moldova. Here she prefers reservoirs, damp lowlands.

Often caught in the eye of people, Alder always remains invisible. In spring, its foliage darkens quickly, and in autumn, when all the trees put on bright outfits, it remains unchanged. At the time of leaf fall, the Alder leaf will only bashfully curl up and imperceptibly fall to the ground.

But in winter, Alder is not difficult to recognize by small bumps on the branches and in the snow.

Alder trunk mostly slender, covered with smooth bark. Trees grow rapidly, reaching a height of more than 20 meters.

Alder gray - deciduous tree or large shrub with a rounded silver-gray crown. The trunk is curved, with gray bark. The leaves are gray on the inside, sharp at the end. Flowers are unisexual. Women sit in the axils of the inflorescence, turning into a small cone by autumn. Alder has a sticky grayish-brown bark, and the foliage is sticky and shiny, dark green above, dull below.

When does alder bloom?

Alder blossom depends on the type and latitude of growth.

Most trees bloom in early spring, in April-May. Before or during the blooming of the leaves, long catkins bloom on the Alder.

Medicinal properties

Alder cones possess anti-inflammatory, astringent and disinfectant properties, which have long been used in traditional medicine. Volatile phytoncides of the bark and leaves of Alder have a detrimental effect on some types of protozoa.

Alder has been used in medicine for centuries. In the herbalists of the Middle Ages, external applications of a decoction of Alder leaves for gout and fungal diseases are often found.

Alder cones used as a decoction or infusion for colitis, dysentery, colds, stomach and intestinal bleeding. Alder is also an affordable remedy in veterinary medicine.

A decoction of Alder cones has hemostatic and astringent properties. It is used for burns, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, skin inflammations, and duodenal or stomach ulcers.

Alder leaf decoction- diaphoretic during colds. In addition, special foot baths can be made from a decoction of the leaves to help relieve fatigue.

Alder wood It does not have high strength, but it has softness and a uniform structure, so it is easy to work with it. Thanks to these properties, Alder has found its application in many industries. When dried, the wood does not crack, it is made from musical instruments. Due to the viscosity and softness of Alder, sculptures, panels and carved dishes are carved. Alder has a beautiful red hue of wood, so it is widely used in furniture design and carpentry.

Alder. Contraindications

It is easy to distinguish alder from aspen. It is enough to see these trees several times. But if you don't have a picture in your head, this article will help you distinguish these trees even in winter.

By the leaves

Trees are very different leaves. Aspen leaves are larger. The edges are smooth, the shape is classic. In alder, they have jagged edges. The shape is elongated, closer to an oval.

By fruits

Alder is easy to distinguish by fruits resembling cones. In spring and summer they are green, and by winter they dry out, turn brown and ossify. You won't find anything like this on Aspen.

By bark

The bark of these plants is also very different. In aspen, it is smooth, greenish-gray in color, sometimes with a slight bluish tint.

Alder bark is different. In gray it has a pronounced grey colour with a light wood texture. The bark of black alder is dark brown, almost black. In mature trees, it cracks and peels off.

For wood

In my opinion, the most characteristic differences are the properties of wood. If you cut the aspen, on the cut it has an exceptional White color. And alder wood, black or gray, is red.

Freshly sawn wood of light color. But literally before our eyes it begins to blush, leaving in an orange or pinkish hue. This phenomenon can be observed especially clearly in winter, when the reaction is faster.

Using this knowledge, you can easily distinguish alder from aspen. And it doesn’t matter if there are leaves on the tree or it will lie in your yard in the form of firewood.

Black alder (Alnus glutinosa)

The plant reaches a height of 30 meters, the bark is dark brown, rough, covered with a network of small cracks.

Photo of black alder
Earrings. Blooms long before leaf development. Male flowers are concentrated in yellow catkins.	The leaves are folded, have the appearance of sinuous, ovate or round, solitary, long-petiolate. The edge of the leaf blade is serrated. The leaf has 5-7 pairs of veins, dark green.
Green fruit. Female inflorescences turn into a small oval cone up to 2 cm long.	Ripe fruit - cone

Varieties are very resistant to stagnant water.

Origin: Europe and Western Asia.

Photo of a black alder.

Green alder (Alnus viridis)

It is a very common shrub (rarely small tree), with dense shoots. Reaches a height of up to 4 m. Creates numerous shoots, bent in the form of a braid. Annual shoots of olive-green or red-brown color are slightly flattened, pubescent.

Photo of green alder
Earrings - male inflorescences.	Leaves - ovate or elliptical, up to 6 cm long, pointed, with double carved edges. The veins are distinctly visible, in the amount of 5-10 pairs, slightly pubescent at the corners.	The ripe fruit is a cone. The fruit is spherical or ovoid, strongly lignified, reminiscent of tiny pine cones. Contains nuts. They stay on the plant for a long time.

The buds are convex, conical, covered with 4-6 purple-brown or greenish ciliated scales, sometimes slightly sticky. The plant is monoecious (separate male and female inflorescences appear on the same plant). Before winter, the rudiments of male and female inflorescences appear on the branches, which bloom only in spring. They bloom simultaneously with the development of foliage (April-May) and are wind pollinated.

The plant grows especially abundantly along streams. Prevents erosion and strengthens slopes. Its pollen sometimes causes allergies.

Origin: Found in North America, Europe and Asia (including Siberia and Kamchatka).

She was brought from America, belongs to the birch family. The name comes from "Alnus", which in Latin means "coastal".

The article will introduce you to amazing plant, you will find out how it looks, in what forests you can meet it and where its raw materials will be used. Alder, a photo of a tree and leaves are presented below.

Shrub Description

The shrub can grow up to three meters long. Flowering begins in mid-summer, and ends in the first month of autumn. It has yellow flowers with a white sheen.

The inflorescence has a length of up to 15 cm. This is one of the most valuable varieties of trees. She brings drupes, these are her fruits. It also blooms the very first of the Russian trees in mid-spring, before the wind-pollinated leaves bloom.

The forest is still frowning, undressed, snowdrifts are melting somewhere, and from afar you can already see the reddish tree when it begins to bloom.

If you get closer, you can admire the blackened leafless branches with dangling brownish-red catkins.

Gradually, the decorations inflate and yellow clouds of pollen fill the atmosphere. Small female flowers pollinate surrounding plants, and, as a result, green cones are formed, in which seeds are born.

Why is it ahead of other trees during flowering? Here's why: the previous summer, it was preparing for the oncoming heat. In July, men's earrings are cut on the branches. Until November, they develop, and by January they fully ripen. They contain a certain amount of pollen. It remains to wait only for the first rays of the gentle star.

The female flowers look like a picture of small spikelets of the field. After pollination, as a rule, the leaves are sealed with resin, develop and change, transforming into lumps.

By September, hard lumps become thick and hang until April. Seeds grow inside them. The premature onset of spring contributes to the daily growth of earrings by three centimeters. When the scales are folded back, the flowers bloom and turn into dust.

Light contact with the jewelry forms a cloud of pollen, which releases a lot: from one earring - up to 30 mg. hallmark does not consist in the first flowering, but also in the fact that the fruits ripen in November.

Basically, such vegetation is undemanding. Likes moist, cool soil. Highly resistant to heat and wind. Winter tolerates well, loves the light. Usually propagated from seeds or cuttings.

grows on open places or in the forest. It adapts well to life with other trees: birch, spruce, oak, etc. Feels good in open areas. This is evidenced by the fruits that appear after 9 years. In places with a constant shadow, they appear only by the age of 35. Lives for over a hundred years.

Varieties

On the territory of our country you can find two types: black and gray. Each of them has its own characteristics and the following description of the species will help not to confuse.

Black - grows up to 30 m in height and up to 80 cm in diameter. Gray - often grows into a dense bush. Sometimes it is no more than 15 m high and no more than 30 cm thick.

The difference lies in the color of the bark and the shape of the leaves. The first species has dark, sticky egg-shaped leaves. In the second variety, the leaves are usually in the form of an ellipse with sharp edges.

Consider where each species grows. The black variety prevails along the wet coasts of rivers and lakes. Gray - can be seen on the withered hills. Freely occupies cuttings, wastelands, ashes.

True, the moisture and nutritional value of the soil are similar. Glued is so named because the young leaves are very sticky. And on the dilapidated trunks of black alder, dark crusts form.

Medicinal properties

The alder tree is characterized by an amazing combination of three colors at once: fiery bark, emerald leaves, dark brown branches. According to popular signs, this depicts the traditional trinity: fire, water and earth.

The black velvet light plant is perfectly cut, but has one drawback - it is too fragile. Alder - white tree however, when felled, the color will turn brown-red.

The vegetation in question is interesting for its beneficial properties for people and other vegetation. It fertilizes the soil with nitrogen. Its roots consist of nodule formations, hiding places for bacteria and nitrogen helpers.

Small roots, together with tree nodules, eat catfish with pleasure. This is caused by the following: the leaves fall off and throw off the various animals that the fish brothers feed on. This is a tasty place for fishermen.

Also highly rated charcoal tree. It is designed to equip anti-chemical equipment, and alder chips are also used for smoking.

The next way to use it is to get good paint. First, the bark is kept in water for two days, then filtered. If you hold the material in the solution for half an hour, it will turn brown.

People have been using this plant for medicinal purposes for a long time. Scientists studied it in 1942. Pharmaceutics has mastered the techniques of making themelin.

Doctors prescribe medicines containing alder extract for long-term stomach diseases, inflammation of the small and large intestines.

Flower earrings are usually collected in the spring. With their help, creams are made for diathesis and eczema. In the country, many grow this plant for preparations: jam from alder cones.

AT countryside people will tell you how to harvest buds and leaves for certain diseases. Can be used for stomach pain or colds. Applied with purulent-necrotic inflammation of the hair follicle.

Alder photo