fbpx
Wikipedia

Alnus incana

October 21, 2023

Alnus incana, the grey alder or speckled alder, is a species of multi-stemmed, shrubby tree in the birch family, with a wide range across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Tolerant of wetter soils, it can slowly spread with runners and is a common sight in swamps and wetlands. It is easily distinguished by its small cones, speckled bark and broad leaves.[citation needed]

Alnus incana
Leaves of speckled alder
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Betulaceae
Genus: Alnus
Subgenus: Alnus subg. Alnus
Species:
A. incana
Binomial name
Alnus incana
Range map

Description Edit

 
Alnus incana var. tenuifolia male flowers in early spring along the Columbia River

It is a small- to medium-sized tree 15–20 metres (49–66 ft) tall with smooth grey bark even in old age, its life span being a maximum of 60 to 100 years. The leaves are matte green, ovoid, 5–11 centimetres (2–4+1⁄4 in) long and 4–8 cm (1+1⁄2–3+1⁄4 in) broad. The flowers are catkins, appearing early in spring before the leaves emerge, the male catkins pendulous and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long, the female catkins 1.5 cm (5⁄8 in) long and one cm broad when mature in late autumn. The seeds are small, 1–2 millimetres (1⁄32–3⁄32 in) long, and light brown with a narrow encircling wing. The grey alder has a shallow root system, and is marked not only by vigorous production of stump suckers, but also by root suckers, especially in the northern parts of its range. The wood resembles that of the black alder (Alnus glutinosa), but is somewhat paler and of little economic value.

Subspecies Edit

There are four to six subspecies, some treated as separate species by some authors:

  •  

    A. incana subsp. incana range

  •  

    A. incana subsp. rugosa range

  •  

    A. incana subsp. tenuifolia range

Ecology Edit

Alnus incana is a light-demanding, fast-growing tree that grows well on poorer soils. In central Europe, it is a colonist of alluvial land alongside mountain brooks and streams, occurring at elevations up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). However, it does not require moist soil, and will also colonize screes and shallow stony slopes. In the northern part of its range, it is a common tree species at sea level in forests, abandoned fields and on lakeshores. Several species of Lepidoptera use grey alder as a food plant for their caterpillars. In the boreal forest area of Canada, A. incana is often associated with black spruce in the forest type termed black spruce–speckled alder.[7] The larvae of the alder woolly sawfly sometimes cause considerable defoliation to the grey alder.[8]

A. rugosa provides cover for wildlife, is browsed by deer and moose, and the seeds are eaten by birds.[9]

Chemistry Edit

Pedunculagin is an ellagitannin found in the Manchurian alder (A. hirsuta var. microphylla).[10]

Uses Edit

The tree is cultivated in parks and gardens. The cultivar 'Aurea', with green-gold leaves, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[11]

It is sometimes used in afforestation and agroforestry in non-fertile or wet soils which it enriches by means of nitrogen fixing bacteria in its root nodules.

Alder is an excellent tree for coppicing[12] and pollarding. Its cut branches may be fed to browsing livestock such as cows and goats, then used for kindling, firewood, or light construction - while root systems fertilize adjacent agricultural plots via nitrogen fixation.[citation needed]

The Zuni people use the bark of the tenuifolia subspecies to dye deerskin reddish brown.[13]

The Ho-Chunk people eat the bark of the rugosa subspecies when their stomachs are "sour" or upset.[14]

Its wood and bark are used in smoking meat,[15] particularly fish[16] and duck.[17]

References Edit

  1. ^ Shaw, K.; Roy, S. & Wilson, B. (2014). "Alnus incana". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 208. e.T63517A3125479. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T63517A3125479.en.
  2. ^ Flora of North America 2009.
  3. ^ Jepson Flora Project (ed.). "Alnus incana subsp. tenuifolia". Jepson eFlora. The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  4. ^ "Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia". Calflora. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  5. ^ "Alnus incana". Plants for a Future. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  6. ^ Patterson, Patricia A. (1985). (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-04-12.
  7. ^ Hogan 2008.
  8. ^ Forest Health Conditions in Alaska—2003. DIANE Publishing. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-4289-6595-9.
  9. ^ Little, Elbert L. (1980). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region. New York: Knopf. p. 363. ISBN 0-394-50760-6.
  10. ^ Lee, O.; Choi, M.; Ha, S.; Lee, G.; Kim, J.; Park, G.; Lee, M.; Choi, Y.; Kim, M.; Oh, C. H. (2010). "Effect of pedunculagin investigated by non-invasive evaluation on atopic-like dermatitis in NC/Nga mice". Skin Research and Technology. 16 (3): 371–377. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0846.2010.00443.x. PMID 20637007. S2CID 25752299.
  11. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Alnus incana 'Aurea'". Royal Horticultural Society. 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  12. ^ "The Best Species for Coppice Forestry". 15 September 2017.
  13. ^ Stevenson, Matilda Coxe (1915). "Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians". SI-BAE Annual Report. 30: 80.
  14. ^ Kindscher, Kelly (1998). "Huron Smith's Ethnobotany of the Hocąk (Winnebago)". Economic Botany. 52 (4): 361. doi:10.1007/BF02862065. S2CID 20652394.
  15. ^ "Alder Flavor Profile: The Most Delicate, Earthy Wood Smoke".
  16. ^ "Smoking wood chart | Ultimate guide to the wood you should use". July 2022.
  17. ^ "Best Wood for Smoking Duck: Tips & recipes - Lakesidesmokers". 28 April 2020.

Further reading Edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alnus incana.
  • "Alnus incana". Flora Europaea. Edinburgh: Royal Botanical Garden. 2008.
  • Furlow, John J. (2009). "Alnus incana". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 3. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  • Hogan, C. Michael (2008). Stromberg, N. (ed.). . GlobalTwitcher.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-05.
  • "Alnus incana - information, genetic conservation units and related resources". European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN).

October 21, 2023
alnus, incana, grey, alder, speckled, alder, species, multi, stemmed, shrubby, tree, birch, family, with, wide, range, across, cooler, parts, northern, hemisphere, tolerant, wetter, soils, slowly, spread, with, runners, common, sight, swamps, wetlands, easily,. Alnus incana the grey alder or speckled alder is a species of multi stemmed shrubby tree in the birch family with a wide range across the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere Tolerant of wetter soils it can slowly spread with runners and is a common sight in swamps and wetlands It is easily distinguished by its small cones speckled bark and broad leaves citation needed Alnus incanaLeaves of speckled alderConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder FagalesFamily BetulaceaeGenus AlnusSubgenus Alnus subg AlnusSpecies A incanaBinomial nameAlnus incana L Moench 2 Range map Contents 1 Description 2 Subspecies 3 Ecology 4 Chemistry 5 Uses 6 References 7 Further readingDescription Edit nbsp Alnus incana var tenuifolia male flowers in early spring along the Columbia RiverIt is a small to medium sized tree 15 20 metres 49 66 ft tall with smooth grey bark even in old age its life span being a maximum of 60 to 100 years The leaves are matte green ovoid 5 11 centimetres 2 4 1 4 in long and 4 8 cm 1 1 2 3 1 4 in broad The flowers are catkins appearing early in spring before the leaves emerge the male catkins pendulous and 5 10 cm 2 4 in long the female catkins 1 5 cm 5 8 in long and one cm broad when mature in late autumn The seeds are small 1 2 millimetres 1 32 3 32 in long and light brown with a narrow encircling wing The grey alder has a shallow root system and is marked not only by vigorous production of stump suckers but also by root suckers especially in the northern parts of its range The wood resembles that of the black alder Alnus glutinosa but is somewhat paler and of little economic value Subspecies EditThere are four to six subspecies some treated as separate species by some authors Alnus incana subsp incana grey alder Northern Europe and northwestern Asia and central and southern Europe in mountains mainly in the regions of the Alps Carpathians and the Caucasus Alnus incana subsp hirsuta Spach A amp D Love A hirsuta Spach Manchurian alder In mountains of Northeast Asia and Central Asia Alnus incana subsp kolaensis N I Orlova A amp D Love Subarctic northeast Europe Alnus incana subsp oblongifolia Alnus oblongifolia Arizona alder Madrean Sky Islands of southwestern North America in Arizona New Mexico and Northwestern Mexico Alnus incana subsp rugosa Du Roi R T Clausen A rugosa Du Roi speckled alder Much of Canada below the tree line and the Northeastern United States Alnus incana subsp tenuifolia Nutt Breitung A tenuifolia Nutt mountain alder or thinleaf alder Western North America including New Mexico to California and Alaska 3 4 5 the roots have nitrogen fixing nodules 6 nbsp A incana subsp incana range nbsp A incana subsp rugosa range nbsp A incana subsp tenuifolia rangeEcology EditAlnus incana is a light demanding fast growing tree that grows well on poorer soils In central Europe it is a colonist of alluvial land alongside mountain brooks and streams occurring at elevations up to 1 500 metres 4 900 ft However it does not require moist soil and will also colonize screes and shallow stony slopes In the northern part of its range it is a common tree species at sea level in forests abandoned fields and on lakeshores Several species of Lepidoptera use grey alder as a food plant for their caterpillars In the boreal forest area of Canada A incana is often associated with black spruce in the forest type termed black spruce speckled alder 7 The larvae of the alder woolly sawfly sometimes cause considerable defoliation to the grey alder 8 A rugosa provides cover for wildlife is browsed by deer and moose and the seeds are eaten by birds 9 Chemistry EditPedunculagin is an ellagitannin found in the Manchurian alder A hirsuta var microphylla 10 Uses EditThe tree is cultivated in parks and gardens The cultivar Aurea with green gold leaves has gained the Royal Horticultural Society s Award of Garden Merit 11 It is sometimes used in afforestation and agroforestry in non fertile or wet soils which it enriches by means of nitrogen fixing bacteria in its root nodules Alder is an excellent tree for coppicing 12 and pollarding Its cut branches may be fed to browsing livestock such as cows and goats then used for kindling firewood or light construction while root systems fertilize adjacent agricultural plots via nitrogen fixation citation needed The Zuni people use the bark of the tenuifolia subspecies to dye deerskin reddish brown 13 The Ho Chunk people eat the bark of the rugosa subspecies when their stomachs are sour or upset 14 Its wood and bark are used in smoking meat 15 particularly fish 16 and duck 17 References Edit Shaw K Roy S amp Wilson B 2014 Alnus incana The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN 208 e T63517A3125479 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2014 3 RLTS T63517A3125479 en Flora of North America 2009 Jepson Flora Project ed Alnus incana subsp tenuifolia Jepson eFlora The Jepson Herbarium University of California Berkeley Retrieved January 28 2013 Alnus incana ssp tenuifolia Calflora Berkeley California The Calflora Database Retrieved January 28 2013 Alnus incana Plants for a Future Retrieved January 28 2013 Patterson Patricia A 1985 Field Guide to the Forest Plants of Northern Idaho PDF United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service p 34 Archived from the original PDF on 2022 04 12 Hogan 2008 Forest Health Conditions in Alaska 2003 DIANE Publishing p 59 ISBN 978 1 4289 6595 9 Little Elbert L 1980 The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees Eastern Region New York Knopf p 363 ISBN 0 394 50760 6 Lee O Choi M Ha S Lee G Kim J Park G Lee M Choi Y Kim M Oh C H 2010 Effect of pedunculagin investigated by non invasive evaluation on atopic like dermatitis in NC Nga mice Skin Research and Technology 16 3 371 377 doi 10 1111 j 1600 0846 2010 00443 x PMID 20637007 S2CID 25752299 RHS Plantfinder Alnus incana Aurea Royal Horticultural Society 2012 Retrieved 5 January 2018 The Best Species for Coppice Forestry 15 September 2017 Stevenson Matilda Coxe 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians SI BAE Annual Report 30 80 Kindscher Kelly 1998 Huron Smith s Ethnobotany of the Hocak Winnebago Economic Botany 52 4 361 doi 10 1007 BF02862065 S2CID 20652394 Alder Flavor Profile The Most Delicate Earthy Wood Smoke Smoking wood chart Ultimate guide to the wood you should use July 2022 Best Wood for Smoking Duck Tips amp recipes Lakesidesmokers 28 April 2020 Further reading Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alnus incana Alnus incana Flora Europaea Edinburgh Royal Botanical Garden 2008 Furlow John J 2009 Alnus incana In Flora of North America Editorial Committee ed Flora of North America North of Mexico FNA Vol 3 New York and Oxford Oxford University Press via eFloras org Missouri Botanical Garden St Louis MO amp Harvard University Herbaria Cambridge MA Hogan C Michael 2008 Stromberg N ed Black Spruce Picea mariana GlobalTwitcher com Archived from the original on 2011 10 05 Alnus incana information genetic conservation units and related resources European Forest Genetic Resources Programme EUFORGEN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alnus incana amp oldid 1179299772, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.