Alder - a widespread deciduous tree or shrub from the Birch family. The largest population is concentrated in the temperate climatic zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Certain species are also found in South America and Asia. Alder grows in mixed deciduous forests on moist, well-fertilized soils. Prefers neighborhood with oak and beech. The scientific name of the plant "Alnus" is translated - "offshore." It is not surprising that most plants are found on the banks of fresh water bodies and rivers. Among the people, the tree is also called "valhal", "hazelnut", "olekh", "elshina". Alder is famous for its wood and healing properties. It looks great on the site, used in traditional medicine and the woodworking industry.
Plant description
Alder - a perennial deciduous shrub or tree with a developed, but superficial rhizome. Because of this, large species often wind down. On the roots, small swellings are formed over time, filled with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Processing nitrogen from the atmosphere, alder very effectively saturates and enriches the soil with it. The shoots have a rounded cross section and are covered with smooth grayish-brown bark. In places where new branches appear, horizontal wrinkles form. On the bark of young shoots, triangular or heart-shaped lentils are noticeable.
The alder leaves are oval or obovate, with a wide rounded end and jagged or wavy edges. The surface of the sheet is smooth, wrinkled between the veins. Foliage grows again on short petioles. Stipules fall early.
In late spring, alder flowers bloom on the alder. Stamens are concentrated on the ends of young shoots in long flexible inflorescences (catkins). They are painted in red-brown or tan. Earrings with variegated flowers are shorter and denser ears at the bottom of the shoot. Flowering begins with the blooming of leaves.
Pollination occurs with the help of wind. After it, the fruits ripen - miniature bumps with woody scales. Ripening ends by mid-autumn. Inside each nutlet there is a single nutlet with wings (less often without them). The leaves of the mature cone open and the seeds spill out. The release process may be delayed until spring. The wind carries seeds over fairly large distances, and spring streams complete the migration process many kilometers from the parent plant.
Alder species
Today, 29 species of plants are assigned to the alder genus. However, scientists cannot come to a consensus so far, since the plant itself is prone to modification and hybridization, so some species are classified as hybrid varieties of others.
Black alder (sticky). The plant lives in the temperate climate of Western Asia, North Africa and throughout Europe. It is a tree up to 35 m in height, often with several trunks with a diameter of up to 90 cm. The branches perpendicular to the trunk form a dense pyramidal crown with a diameter of about 12 m. The maximum growth rate is reached at the age of 5-10 years. The life cycle is 80-100 years. Single copies survive to 3 centuries. The developed rhizome is located in the upper layers of the soil and is covered with nodules. Leaves have an almost rounded shape with feathery venation. Their length is 6–9 cm and their width is 6–7 cm. In early spring, 4–7 cm long earrings open at the ends of the branches. They have a yellowish-brown color. Pestle earrings are almost black, they grow on an elongated flexible stem and are 1.2-2 cm long and up to 1 cm wide. Fruits do not exceed 3 mm in length. In the fall, their oblate notched surface becomes wrinkled, reddish-brown.
Red alder. A very decorative and beautiful tree up to 20 m high. Its trunk and branches are covered with almost smooth light gray bark, and young shoots are dark red. First, the green shoots are densely pubescent, and then it becomes bare. Egg-shaped dark green leaves have a pointed edge and serrated sides. On the reverse side, the leaf plate is covered with reddish villi. Stamen inflorescences are cast in red-brown color. Ovate cones grow up to 15-25 mm in length.
Alder gray. An unpretentious sprawling shrub or tree up to 20 m in height has a narrow ovoid crown. The cylindrical curved trunk reaches a width of 50 cm. Longitudinal outgrowths and depressions are clearly visible on it. The species grows very rapidly at an early age. The rhizome is located at a depth of 20 cm. The bark is dark gray, not sticky. Oval or lanceolate leaves on top have a smooth leathery surface, and on the back are densely covered with silver pile. Their length is 4-10 cm, and their width is 3-7 cm. Flowering occurs in early spring, before the leaves bloom.
Alder wood
Alder is actively used in the woodworking and furniture industries. And although the wood of the plant does not differ in high density and strength, it is popular for its lightness, resistance to rot and water. At low cost, the wood is quite light. It behaves well during drying (it does not bend or crack). The advantage is a uniform coloration of the core and sapwood.
From alder make parts for wells, ships, interior decoration. It is with her that woodcarvers like to work. Also from this tree produce spools for thread and other small items.
Alder wood burns without soot and exudes a pleasant smell. This is the best material for a bath or cooking.
Breeding methods
Alder is propagated by seeds, cuttings and basal shoots. The most common seed method and especially self-sowing. By autumn, ripe cones begin to open and release the seeds. During November-March, they fall into the ground and undergo natural stratification. After that, during the snowmelt, the seeds are saturated with moisture and hatch. When planting, the seeds are planted in melted soil to a depth of 2.5-3 cm. In the first year, only a small sprout forms and a rhizome develops. Gradually, the seedlings become stronger and quickly turn into a lush bush or small tree. Every year it will add 50-100 cm in height.
Often young shoots appear from the trunk. In just a year, their height can reach 1-1.5 m. In the spring, the offspring can be dug up and transplanted to a new place. It is recommended to keep a lump of old earth on the roots and not allow it to dry out.
In spring and summer, cuttings 12–16 cm long are cut from young shoots. They are rooted immediately in the open ground. The best survival rate is shown by plants treated with a stimulator of root formation. Cuttings need to be regularly watered. By autumn, the plants will take root and be strong enough for wintering without shelter.
Rules of landing and care
Alder is very unpretentious to the location and composition of the soil. It grows well in partial shade and in the open sun, on gummed loams and poor sandy soils. Due to its ability to enrich the earth with nitrogen, the alder itself will create a nutrient layer for itself and other representatives of the flora. The exception is black alder, which can grow normally only on nutritious and moist ground. It is suitable for the refinement and strengthening of the coastal zone or beam, where groundwater is close to the surface.
For planting, it is recommended to use soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Lime, humus and fertilizer (Kemira) are preliminarily added to the ground. Planting is best done during the growing season. At the bottom of the landing pit lay a layer of drainage material (sand, gravel). Then the roots are straightened and the free space is covered with fertilized soil. The root neck should be flush with the surface. The earth is abundantly watered and compacted, and the surface is mulched with a layer of chopped straw, peat or wood chips.
Further care for the alder is practically not needed. In the year of planting, plants need to be watered more often, while avoiding stagnation of water in the upper layers of the soil. For better aeration of the roots, the soil is regularly loosened and weeds removed. It is not necessary to wield the instrument too deeply so as not to damage the roots.
Also in the first year, plants should be fed with compost or organic fertilizers. Starting next year, the need for this procedure will disappear.
In anticipation of wintering, no special events are needed, since the alder is characterized by high winter hardiness. Even severe and snowless winters are not afraid of her.
The plant is susceptible to infection with a fungal infection (the genus Tafrin and others), which leads to deformation of the earrings and leaves. When symptoms of the disease appear, a series of fungicide treatments is necessary. Of the parasites, the greatest threat is arboreal larvae. They damage the bark of young shoots. To combat them, heavily damaged branches are cut off and the crown is treated with an insecticide.
Healing properties
Alder can be called a useful and even healing plant, which has great benefits for human health. Cones, leaves, bark, and roots contain tannins, flavonoids, minerals, and vitamins. From medicinal raw materials alder black or gray alcohol and water infusions, as well as decoctions are made. The drugs help with colds, bronchitis, irritations and ulcers on the skin, inflammation of the mucous membranes, bleeding. Alder has anti-inflammatory, astringent, hemostatic, expectorant effects.
A decoction of cones is drunk with colitis, dysentery, diarrhea, bleeding from the digestive tract, nose and mouth. They rinse their mouth with stomatitis and periodontitis. Tinctures from the root are recommended for women to normalize reproductive function and the menstrual cycle, to combat genital inflammation.
Usually, alder preparations do not have contraindications, with the exception of an allergic reaction. However, in everything, a measure is needed, it is not recommended to abuse and exceed the recommended dosages, since certain components tend to accumulate in the body.
Landscape use
The oval, openwork crown of an alder with moving branches and trembling leaves looks very lively. Plants do not suffer from gas pollution in urban air, so they can be planted along the road. As a hedge, low trees or lush shrubs up to 3 m high are usually used. They are planted with a ribbon method rather densely and regularly shaped.
Large single-stemmed trees are used in single plantings or as a group in a large area. They are planted along paths and alleys. Alder can also be used in compositions from shrubs and trees, combining plants with different colors and foliage structures.
