TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Tree, shrub, monoecious
Stem: trunk < 35 m; bark ± smooth; lenticels present
Leaves simple, alternate, petioled, deciduous; stipules deciduous; blade ovate to elliptic, generally serrate, ± doubly so
Inflorescence: catkin, generally appearing before leaves, often clustered; bracts each subtending 23 flowers and 36 bractlets
Staminate inflorescence pendent, ± elongate
Pistillate inflorescence pendent or erect, developing variously in fruit (see key to genera)
Staminate flower: sepals 04, minute; petals 0; stamens 110; pistil vestigial or 0
Pistillate flower: sepals 04; petals 0; stamens 0; pistil 1, ovary inferior, chambers 2, each 1-ovuled, stigmas 2
Fruit: nut or nutlet, sometimes winged, subtended or enclosed by 12 bracts
Genera in family: 6 genera, 105 species: generally n hemisphere; some cultivated.
Tree, shrub
Stem: trunk < 35 m; bark smooth, gray to brown; twigs glabrous to finely hairy, reddish gray; lenticels small; winter buds stalked, 2-scaled
Leaf glabrous to finely hairy; blade 315 cm, elliptic to ovate, base ± truncate to tapered, sometimes subcordate
Staminate inflorescence 520 cm; bracts each subtending 3 flowers and 4 bractlets
Pistillate inflorescence 520 mm; bracts each subtending 2 flowers and 4 fused bractlets
Staminate flower: sepals 4; stamens 14
Pistillate flower: sepals 0
Fruits many, in cone-like catkin, bracts 3 mm, woody, winged
Species in genus: 30 species: n hemisphere, South America
Etymology: (Latin: alder)
Reference: [Furlow 1979 Rhodora 81:1121, 151248]
Root nodules contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria; wood used for interior finishing, to smoke fish, meats.
Native |
Shrub
Stem: trunks < 8 m
Leaf: blade thin, sticky when young, base tapered to subcordate, tip acute to tapered, margin ± flat, upper surface yellow-green, shiny, lower surface green, hairs restricted to or denser in major vein axils
Inflorescence appearing with or before leaves
Ecology: Along creeks, seeps, meadow margins
Elevation: 10002700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Outer North Coast Ranges, High North Coast Ranges
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, w Canada
Synonyms: A. s. (Regel) Rydb
2 other subspp. in Can, Eurasia
Horticultural information: WET, SUN: 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 15; STBL.