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:For the '''Black Alder''' (''Ilex verticillata''), see [[American Winterberry]].
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Black Alder
| image = Alnus glutinosa.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fagales]]
| familia = [[Betulaceae]]
| genus = [[Alder|Alnus]]
| species = '''''A. glutinosa'''''
| binomial = ''Alnus glutinosa''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
[[Image:Alnus glutinosa female inflorescence.JPG|240px|right|thumb|Female inflorescence]]
'''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]].
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 5–10 cm short-stalked rounded [[leaf|leaves]] 6–12 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.
There are four [[subspecies]]:
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''glutinosa''. Europe.
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''barbata''. Northern [[Anatolia]] ([[Rize]],[[Trabzon]], [[Artvin]])
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''antitaurica''. Southern Anatolia, rare.
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''betuloides''. Eastern Anatolia.
The slender cylindrical male [[catkin]]s are pendulous, reddish in colour and 5–10 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.
===Uses===
[[Image:Coppice_stool.jpg|left|thumb|Recently coppiced stumps, showing the orange-red wood]]
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.
===Cultural aspects===
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.
{{Commons|Alnus_glutinosa}}
[[Category:Betulaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Wood]]
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Black Alder
| image = Alnus glutinosa.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fagales]]
| familia = [[Betulaceae]]
| genus = [[Alder|Alnus]]
| species = '''''A. glutinosa'''''
| binomial = ''Alnus glutinosa''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
[[Image:Alnus glutinosa female inflorescence.JPG|240px|right|thumb|Female inflorescence]]
'''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]].
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 5–10 cm short-stalked rounded [[leaf|leaves]] 6–12 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.
There are four [[subspecies]]:
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''glutinosa''. Europe.
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''barbata''. Northern [[Anatolia]] ([[Rize]],[[Trabzon]], [[Artvin]])
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''antitaurica''. Southern Anatolia, rare.
*''Alnus glutinosa'' subsp. ''betuloides''. Eastern Anatolia.
The slender cylindrical male [[catkin]]s are pendulous, reddish in colour and 5–10 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.
===Uses===
[[Image:Coppice_stool.jpg|left|thumb|Recently coppiced stumps, showing the orange-red wood]]
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.
===Cultural aspects===
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.
{{Commons|Alnus_glutinosa}}
[[Category:Betulaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Wood]]
