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Alder (view source)

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{{Taxobox
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__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
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| color = lightgreen
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| name = ''Alnus''
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| name = Alder
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| common_names = 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
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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 = Tagalder8139.jpg
 
| image = Tagalder8139.jpg
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| image_width = 250px
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| image_width = 180px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
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| image_caption = ''Alnus serrulata'' (Tag Alder)<br />Male catkins on right,<br />mature female catkins left<br />[[Johnsonville, South Carolina]]
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| image_caption = ''Alnus serrulata'' (Tag Alder): Male catkins on right, mature female catkins left
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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| regnum = Plantae
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| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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| divisio = Magnoliophyta
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| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
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| classis = Magnoliopsida
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| ordo = [[Fagales]]
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| ordo = Fagales
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| familia = [[Betulaceae]]
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| familia = Betulaceae
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| genus = '''''Alnus'''''
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| genus = Alnus
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| genus_authority = [[Philip Miller|Mill.]]
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| subdivision_ranks = Species
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| subdivision = About 20-30 species, see text.
   
}}
 
}}
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{{Inc|
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Alnus (the ancient Latin name). Betulaceae. Alder. Ornamental woody plants grown chiefly for their foliage; some species are valuable as timber trees.
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'''Alder''' is the common name of a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s ('''''Alnus''''') belonging to the [[birch]] family (Family [[Betulaceae]]). The genus comprises about 30 [[species]] of [[Plant sexuality|monoecious]] [[tree]]s and [[shrub]]s, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate zone, and in the [[New World]] also along the [[Andes]] southwards to [[Chile]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[deciduous]] (not [[evergreen]]), alternate, simple, and serrated. The [[flower]]s are [[catkin]]s with elongate male catkins on the same plant as shorter female catkins, often before leaves appear; they are mainly wind-pollinated, but also visited by [[bee]]s to a small extent. They differ from the [[birch]]es (''Betula'', the other genus in the family) in that the female catkins are woody and do not disintegrate at maturity, opening to release the seeds in a similar manner to many [[conifer cone]]s.
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Trees or shrubs: lvs. alternate, deciduous, short-petioled, usually serrate or dentate: fls. monoecious, apetalous, in catkins; staminate ones elongated, each bract with 3 fls.; stamens 4 in each fl., with short filaments not divided at the apex; pistillate catkins short, each bract with 2 fls.; styles 2; the pistillate catkins developing into a ligneous, generally ovoid cone with persistent, 5-lobed scales: fr. a small nutlet.—About 30 species in the northern hemisphere, in Amer. south to Peru. Monograph by Winkler in Engler's Pflanzenreich: Betulaceae 101 (1904).
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The best-known species in Europe is the Common or [[Black Alder]] (''A. glutinosa''), native to most of [[Europe]] and widely introduced elsewhere. The largest species is [[Red Alder]] (''A. rubra''), reaching 35 m (the tallest is 32 m) on the west coast of [[North America]], with Black Alder and [[Italian Alder]] (''A. cordata'') both reaching about 30 m. By contrast, the widespread [[Green Alder]] (''A. viridis'') is rarely more than a 5 m shrub.
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The alders are deciduous trees, or shrubs with medium-sized leaves and pendulous staminate catkins in spring before the leaves; the short pistillate catkins developing into woody cones about 1/2 to 1 inch long and usually arranged in small racemes. The profuse male catkins are pleasing in early spring. The wood is valuable for its durability in water; of the native species, A. rubra is the most important timber-tree; in the Old World, A. glutinosa and A. japonica. Most species are suitable for planting on damp soil, where they grow rapidly, but A. cordata prefers a drier situation; also A. japonica, A. incana and A. tinctoria grow well in drier situations.
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The common name ''alder'' is derived from an old [[Germanic language|Germanic]] root. The botanic name ''Alnus'' is the original [[Latin]] name.  
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Usually propagation is by seeds gathered in the fall and well dried; sown in spring with but slight covering, and kept moist and shady, they germinate soon; a slight covering with moss, taken on when the seedlings appear, will be useful. At the end of the same year or the following spring, the seedlings are transplanted, usually into rows 1 to 2 feet apart and 6 inches from each other. After two years, they may be planted where they are to stand. The shrubby species, also A. glutinosa, grow from hardwood cuttings placed in moist and sandy soil, also from layers, and A. incana from suckers. Rarer kinds are grafted on common potted stock in early spring in the propagating-house; grafting out-of-doors is rarely successful.
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{{SCH}}
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}}
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==Classification==
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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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{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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==Species==
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Classification according to Wikipedia{{wp}}:
 
The genus is divided into three subgenera:
 
The genus is divided into three subgenera:
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**''Alnus viridis'' subsp. ''sinuata'' (''A. sinuata'', [[Sitka Alder]] or Slide Alder). Western North America, far northeastern Siberia.
 
**''Alnus viridis'' subsp. ''sinuata'' (''A. sinuata'', [[Sitka Alder]] or Slide Alder). Western North America, far northeastern Siberia.
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==Uses==
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SCH List{{SCH}}:
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[[Image:Alder female 8519.JPG|right|thumb|''Alnus serrulata'' (Tag Alder), female catkins, [[Johnsonville, South Carolina]]]]
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*A . acuminata, HBK. Tree: lvs. usually ovate and pubescent beneath, doubly serrate. Cent. Amer., north to Ariz. {{SCH}}
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Alders establish [[symbiosis|symbioses]] with the [[nitrogen]]-fixing [[Actinobacteria]] ''Frankiella alni''. This bacteria converts atmospheric nitrogen into soil-soluble [[nitrate]]s which can be utilised by the alder, and favorably enhances the soil fertility generally. Alders benefit other plants growing near them by taking nitrogen out of the air and depositing it in the soil in usable form; fallen alder leaves make very rich [[compost]].
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*A. cremastogyne, Burkill. Tree: young branchlets glabrous; lvs. oblong-obovate, glabrous, sharply serrate, 3-4 in. long: cones cylindric, solitary on slender peduncles, about 1 1/2 in. long. W.China. — Recently intro., probably not hardy N. {{SCH}}
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*A. firma, Sieb. & Zucc. (A. Sieboldiana, Mats.). Allied to A. yasha. Tree: lvs. ovate, or ovate-oblong, acute, rounded at the base, with 10-15 pairs of veins, 3-5 in. long: cones about 1 in. long, solitary on a peduncle 1/2-1 in. long. Japan. S.I.F. 2:12. {{SCH}}
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Alders are sturdy and fast-growing, even in acidic and damaged sites such as burned areas and [[mining]] sites. Italian Alder is particularly useful on dry, infertile sites. Alders can be used as a producer of simple bio-mass, growing quickly in harsh environments.
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*A. fruticosa, Rupr. (A. viridis var. sibirica, Regel). Allied to A. viridis. Shrub: lvs. broadly ovate or elliptic-ovate, usually rounded at the base, nearly doubly or sinuately serrate. Siberia, Corea. {{SCH}}
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*A. hirsuta. Turcs. (A. incana var. hirsuta, Spach). Allied to A. tinctoria. Tree; young branchlets, and petioles tomentose: lvs. suborbicular to elliptic, acutish, denticulate and slightly lobed, ferrugineously tomentose beneath. Japan, Manchuria. {{SCH}}
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*A. jorullensis, HBK. Allied to A. acuminata. Lvs. oblong-lanceolate, coarsely dentate. Cent. Amer.{{SCH}}
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*A. mollis, Fernald. Closely allied to A. crispa. Shrub or small tree: branchleta pubescent: lvs. pubescent beneath. 2—4 in. long. N.E. Amer., west to Lake Winnipeg, south to Mass.{{SCH}}
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*A. nitida, Endl. Tree, to 100 ft.: lvs. ovate to ovate-oblong, short-acuminate, not plicate, 3-4 in. long, entire or remotely serrulate, bright green and lustrous above, glabrous: male catkins very slender, to 6 in. long: cones 2-4, peduncled. Himalayas. B.M. 7654.{{SCH}}
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*A. oblongifiolia, Torr. Tree, 20-30 ft.: lvs. oblong-ovate, cuneate, doubly serrate, 2-3 in. long: strobiles 1/2-1 in. long, peduncled. N. Mer. and Aris. S.8. 9:457.{{SCH}}
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*A. occidentalis, Dipp.==A. tenuifolia.{{SCH}}
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*A. orientalis, Decne. (A. barbata, Hort., not C. A. Mey. A. firma, Hort., not Sieb. & Zucc. A. macrophylla, Hort.). Allied to A. cordata. Tree: lvs. ovate-oblong, obtusely or crenately serrate, 2-5 in. long, glabrous, with 8-10 pairs of veins: cones ovoid, glutinous, 1/2-1 in. long; nutlets without wing. Asia Minor.{{SCH}}
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*A. pubescent, Tsch. (A. glutinosa X incana). Lvs. roundish-ovate or obovate, irregularly serrate, pubescent beneath. Natural hybrid.{{SCH}}
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*A. rhombifolia, Nutt. Tree, 60-80 ft.: lvs. cuneate, oval or ovate, 2-3 1/2 in. long, finely serrate, yellowish green and puberulous beneath: strobiles oblong, peduncled. W.N. Amer. S.S. 1):450.{{SCH}}
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*A. Sieboldiana, Mats.==A. firma.{{SCH}}
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*A. sinuata, Rydb. (A. sitchensis, Sarg.). Allied to A. viridis. Shrub, 3-16 ft.: lvs. slightly lobed, serrulate, glabrous, thin. W. N. Amer. 8.8.14:727.{{SCH}}
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*A . Spaethii, Callier (A. japonica X subcordata). Tree: lvs. ovate-lanceolate, sharply serrate, violet-purple when unfolding. Of garden origin.{{SCH}}
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*A. subcordata, C. A. Mey. Tree, 30-50 ft.: lvs. ovate or oblong- ovate, rounded at the base, 2-6 in.-long, crenately or doubly serrate, glabrous or sometimes pubescent beneath: cones about 1 in. long: nutlets with a narrow wing. Caucasus.{{SCH}}
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*A. tenuifolia, Nutt. (A. incana var. virescens, Wats. A. occidentalis, Dipp.). Small tree, occasionally 30 ft.: lvs. ovate, 2-4 in. long, slightly lobed and double serrate, green and nearly glabrous beneath. W. N. Amer.{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus Alnobetula]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus aurea]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus barbata]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus communis]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus cordata]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus cordifolia]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus denticulata]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus firma]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus glauca]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus glutinosa]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus imperialia]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus incana]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus incisa]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus japonica]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus laciniata]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus maritima]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus Mitchelliana]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus oblongata]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus oregana]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus oxyacanthifolia]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus pendula]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus pinnatififa]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus pyrifolia]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus rotundifolia]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus rubra]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus rubrinervia]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus rugosa]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus serrulata]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus tiliacea]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus tiliaerfolia]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus tinctoria]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus undulata]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus viridis]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus vulgaris]]''{{SCH}}
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*''[[Alnus yasha]]''{{SCH}}
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Alder catkins are one of the first sources of pollen for [[bee]] species, especially [[honeybee]]s, which use it for spring buildup.  Alders are also used as a food plant by some [[Lepidoptera]] species, see [[list of Lepidoptera which feed on Alders]]. Alders are also grown in gardens, and are sometimes made into [[bonsai]].
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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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Alder is a preferred wood for [[charcoal]] making, formerly used in the manufacture of [[gunpowder]], or for [[smelting]] [[metal]] [[ore]]s, now used primarily for [[cooking]]. The wood is also traditionally used for [[smoking (food)|smoking]] [[fish]] and [[meat]], though this usage has often been replaced by other woods such as [[oak]] and [[hickory]]. It is popular as a material for [[electric guitar]] bodies.
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Alder is used by many guitar makers, notably the [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] Guitar Company, who use it on top quality instruments such as the [[Stratocaster]] and [[Fender Jaguar|Jaguar]]. Alder provides a brighter tone than other woods (such as mahogany), and as alder is not a particularly dense wood it provides a resonant, well-rounded tone with excellent sustain.
      
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Image:Alnus-viridis.JPG|Green Alder (''Alnus viridis'')
 
Image:Alnus-viridis.JPG|Green Alder (''Alnus viridis'')
 
Image:Alnus incana rugosa leaves.jpg|Speckled Alder (''Alnus incana'' subsp. ''rugosa'') - leaves
 
Image:Alnus incana rugosa leaves.jpg|Speckled Alder (''Alnus incana'' subsp. ''rugosa'') - leaves
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[[Image:Alder female 8519.JPG|right|thumb|''Alnus serrulata'' (Tag Alder), female catkins, [[Johnsonville, South Carolina]]]]
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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<br clear=left />
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==References and external links==
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==References==
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*Chen, Zhiduan and Li, Jianhua (2004). Phylogenetics and Biogeography of Alnus (Betulaceae) Inferred from Sequences of Nuclear Ribosomal DNA ITS Region. ''International Journal of Plant Sciences'' 165: 325–335.
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Alnus&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Alnus'']
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=40&taxon_id=101157 Flora of Bolivia: ''Alnus'']
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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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*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=101157 Flora of China: ''Alnus'']
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=101157 Flora of North America: ''Alnus'']
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*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=101157 Flora of Pakistan: ''Alnus'']
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
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{{Wiktionarypar|Alder}}
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{{stub}}
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[[Category:Categorize]]
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[[Category:Betulaceae]]
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