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Black Alder (view source)

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:For the '''Black Alder''' (''Ilex verticillata''), see [[American Winterberry]].
 
:For the '''Black Alder''' (''Ilex verticillata''), see [[American Winterberry]].
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__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
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{{Taxobox
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| name = ''Alnus glutinosa''
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| color = lightgreen
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| common_names = Black Alder, European Alder, Common Alder
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| name = Black Alder
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| growth_habit = ?  <!--- tree, shrub, herbaceous, vine, etc -->
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| high = ?  <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
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| wide =    <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
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| origin = ?  <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
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| poisonous =    <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
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| lifespan =    <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->
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| exposure = ?  <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
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| water = ?  <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->
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| features =    <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
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| hardiness =    <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->
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| bloom =    <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
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| usda_zones = ?  <!--- eg. 8-11 -->
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| sunset_zones =    <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
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| color = IndianRed
 
| image = Alnus glutinosa.jpg
 
| image = Alnus glutinosa.jpg
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| image_width = 240px
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| image_width = 240px   <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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| image_caption =    <!--- eg. Cultivated freesias -->
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| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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| regnum = Plantae
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| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
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| divisio = Magnoliophyta
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| ordo = [[Fagales]]
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| classis = Magnoliopsida
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| familia = [[Betulaceae]]
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| ordo = Fagales
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| genus = [[Alder|Alnus]]
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| familia = Betulaceae
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| species = '''''A. glutinosa'''''
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| genus = Alnus
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| binomial = ''Alnus glutinosa''
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| species = glutinosa
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| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
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}}
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{{Inc|
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Alnus glutinosa, Gaertn. (A. vulgaris, Hill. A. rotundifolia, Mill. A. communis, Desf.). Black Alder. Tree, to 70 ft.: lvs. orbicular or obovate, rounded or emarginate at the apex, 2-5 in. long, irregularly obtusely serrate, with 5-7 pairs of veins, nearly glabrous beneath, glutinous when unfolding: cones distinctly peduncled. Eu., N. Afr., Asia, naturalized in some localities in N. Amer. H.W. 2:12. H.T. 130. — A vigorously growing tree with dark green, dull foliage, valuable for planting in damp situations. Commonly planted in many forms: Var. aurea, Versch. Lvs. yellow. I.H. 13:490. Var. denticulate, Ledeb. (A. oblongata, Willd.). Lvs. usually cuneate, serrulate. S. Eu. Var. barbata, Gallier (A. barbata, C. A. Mey.). Lvs. ovate, acute, pubescent on the veins beneath. Caucasus. Var. imperialis, Desf. Lvs. deeply pinnately lobed with lanceolate or nearly linear lobes. Var. incisa, Willd. (var. oxyacanthifolia, Spach). Lvs. small, deeply incised, like those of Crataegus oxyacantha. Var. laciniata, Willd. Lvs. pinnately lobed; lobes oblong. Var. rubrinervia, Dipp. Lvs. large and shining, with red nerves and petioles: pyramidal tree of vigorous growth, very handsome.
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{{SCH}}
 
}}
 
}}
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[[Image:Alnus glutinosa female inflorescence.JPG|240px|right|thumb|Female inflorescence]]
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'''Black Alder''', '''European Alder''' or '''Common Alder''' (''Alnus glutinosa'') is an [[alder]] [[tree]] native to most of [[Europe]], including all of [[Britain]], [[Fennoscandia]] and locally in southwest [[Asia]].
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The Black Alder thrives best in moist soils, and grows under favourable circumstances to a height of 20-30 m, though often less. It is characterized by its 5&ndash;10 cm short-stalked rounded [[leaf|leaves]] 6&ndash;12 cm long, becoming wedge-shaped at the base and with a slightly toothed margin. When young they are somewhat glutinous, whence the specific name, becoming later a glossy dark green. As with some other plants growing near water it keeps its leaves longer than do trees in drier situations, the glossy green foliage lasting after other trees have put on the red or brown of autumn, which renders it valuable for landscape effect. As the Latin name ''glutinosa'' implies, the buds and young leaves are slightly sticky with a [[resin]]ous gum.
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==Cultivation==
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{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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===Propagation===
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{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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===Pests and diseases===
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==Species==
 
There are four [[subspecies]]:
 
There are four [[subspecies]]:
 
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''glutinosa''. Europe.
 
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''glutinosa''. Europe.
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*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''betuloides''. Eastern Anatolia.
 
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''betuloides''. Eastern Anatolia.
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The slender cylindrical male [[catkin]]s are pendulous, reddish in colour and 5&ndash;10 cm long; the female are smaller, 2 cm in length and dark brown to black in colour, hard, somewhat woody, and superficially similar to some [[conifer]] cones. When the small winged seeds have been scattered the ripe, woody, blackish cones remain, often lasting through the winter.  The alder is readily propagated by seeds, but throws up root suckers abundantly.
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==Gallery==
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{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->
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<gallery>
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Image:Alnus glutinosa female inflorescence.JPG|thumb|Female inflorescence
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Image:Coppice_stool.jpg|Recently coppiced stumps, showing the orange-red wood
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
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===Uses===
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==References==
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[[Image:Coppice_stool.jpg|left|thumb|Recently coppiced stumps, showing the orange-red wood]]
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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It is important as coppice-wood on marshy ground. The wood is soft, white when first cut and turning to pale red; the knots are beautifully mottled. Under water the wood is very durable, and it is therefore used for [[pile]]s. The supports of the Rialto at [[Venice]], and many buildings at [[Amsterdam]], are of Alder-wood. It is also the traditional wood burnt to produce [[Smoking (food)|smoked]] fish and other smoked foods, though in some areas other woods are more often used now. Furniture is sometimes made from the wood, and it supplies excellent charcoal for gunpowder. The bark is astringent; it is used for [[tanning]] and [[dye]]ing.
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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===Cultural aspects===
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==External links==
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Frequently, such as in [[Brythonic mythology|Brythonic]] and [[Norse mythology]], the Alder is a symbol of resurrection, possibly because the wood turns from white to reddish-purple when cut, similar to human [[blood]]. The first humans in Norse mythology were made from [[Ash (tree)|Ash]] and [[Alder]] trees. In Ireland, reverence for the Alder tree was so great that cutting one down was a criminal offence. In other places, such as [[Newfoundland]], the Alder's medicinal effects were prized; it has been used to treat burns, [[rheumatism]] and [[itch]]ing.
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*{{wplink}}
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{{Commons|Alnus_glutinosa}}
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{{stub}}
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[[Category:Categorize]]
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[[Category:Betulaceae]]
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[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
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[[Category:Wood]]
 
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