Alder

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Alder (lat. Alnus) - a genus of woody plants of the Birch family (Latin Betulaceae). The genus is not numerous, numbering about 35 species, represented in nature by monoecious shrubs and trees. They are able to enrich the soil with nitrogen, heal the wounds of the Earth. They have healing abilities. Fire resistant.

What's in your name

The Latin name of the genus of plants "Alnus" is rooted in the Proto-Indo-European language, which is the ancestor of the most common language family - Indo-European. It had the root "EL-" meaning "red" or "brown".

From there, through the Proto-Slavic, comes the Russian name of the genus "Alder".

Description

Plants of the Alder genus partially resemble plants of the Birch genus, from which they were once separated into an independent genus.

These are, as a rule, deciduous deciduous shrubs and trees that are monoecious plants, that is, both male and female earring inflorescences are located on the same individual. The height of trees can reach a little more than 30 meters, while shrub species, for example, green alder (lat. Alnus viridis), do not exceed 5 (five) meters in height.

Cylindrical shoots are covered with simple, often whole, leaves arranged in regular order on short petioles. Pronounced transverse oblique veins give the edge of the leaf a wavy-toothed appearance. The shape of the leaf plate is almost round. Some species have pubescence and yellowness of the leaves. Small stipules fall off early.

Flowering in many species begins before the leaves appear, which nature has linked to the method of pollination. After all, flowers are pollinated by the wind, which makes it easier to do their "work" when the leaves do not interfere. Male flowers collected in longer earrings are located in the upper part of the branches, and female flowers form shorter earrings and are located lower on the branch. There are species whose flowers are born in the fall.

The crown of the growing cycle is a winged or wingless fruit in the form of a nut with one seed. Lignified female cones, who set their children free, hold on to the branches for a long time, bringing sadness.

Alder's Commonwealth with Bacteria

As often happens in nature, alder, like plants of the legume family, is friends with soil bacteria, which it allows to settle on its roots. A mutually beneficial exchange is established between them: the tree shares with the bacteria the products of its photosynthesis - sugars, and the bacteria absorb free nitrogen from the air, turning it into an accessible form for roots. Thus, Alder provides food not only for itself, but also for its closest neighbors, improving soil fertility.

Research carried out by botanists has shown that alder shrub species enrich the soil with such an amount of nitrogen that can turn sterile glacial reliefs into fertile soil on which coniferous forests can grow. Alder, along with Birches and Aspens, is the first inhabitant of land plots disturbed by fires, landslides, and floods. True, later, when coniferous trees follow Alder, which, growing up, shade the sun-loving Alder, she begins to give up its positions, giving way to coniferous giants.

Alder fire resistance

Alder groves are much more effective at resisting the onslaught of fires than conifers, often turning into a natural barrier to the spread of fire. A light surface fire does not harm the thin but firm bark of trees, and leaves on branches and fallen leaves do not support the appetite of the fire tongues.

Usage

Earring inflorescences of some species of Alder are rich in protein and are quite edible.

Alder wood is used for smoking seafood, guitars and furniture are made from it.

Traditional medicine uses the healing powers of the bark to treat diseases of the lymph nodes, skin irritations, tuberculosis, and various tumors.

Red and yellow dyes are extracted from the bark.