alder is a real harbinger of spring.It begins to bloom when there is still snow.Leaflets appear much later.The tree belongs to the family Birch.
alder: description
Depending on environmental conditions, may look like a deciduous tree up to 25 meters or as a large shrub with a trunk up to 50 cm. Alder refers to the fast-growing species that is especially evident in the first 15 years of life.Later, the process is slowed down.Freezeproof and semi-shade, but rather light-requiring.
average age - 40-60 years, but the plants are known, and have reached 100 years of age.
Alder gray (or white, as it is called) has a shallow root system.Deepening it is only 20 cm. On the roots and nodules occur nodule pnёvaya growth.
Alder has a slender trunk with a smooth light gray bark.Young shoots she initially with a greenish tinge, later becoming brown.Particularly in the eye catches a weak non-adhesive fluff that disappears after a while.
Leaves oval, broad and slightly pointed top.Grow up to 10 cm, with the top side of a bright green, the bottom - is lighter.The leaves on the branch arranged in three rows.
known 30 species of this plant, but in Russia most often found only two: alder, black alder.The second is also called sticky.
flowering and reproduction
appear first catkins in March or April.Men and women differ in appearance from each other.In the first inflorescence long and usually collected for 3-5 pieces together.Earrings "female" oval shaped, short legs, a length of 1.5 cm. They are collected for 8-9 pieces.Pollination occurs by wind.
the fall of female inflorescences are becoming harder and look like small bumps.
At the same time every year, and mature seeds that remain viable for 2 years.They look like peanuts length of 1.5 cm with membranous wings.
alder propagated by seeds, root suckers and cuttings.Very quickly, it can form thickets wild.
Distribution
tree grows in Russia, mainly in the northern part of it is also common in Siberia, up to Kamchatka.It is found in North America, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Serbia, Italy, France, and almost all of Europe.
alder prefers to grow in the forest area, but also found in the forest-steppe and forest-tundra.In North America, a tree sometimes pose a threat to native vegetation.
Due to good germination rapidly forms thickets.In contrast to the black alder, easily adapts to wetlands.Because of this plant is often used to reinforce river banks, slopes of ravines, as well as the creation of agroforestry landscapes.
grows in moist calcareous soil that enriches itself with nitrogen.Drought brings bad.Its presence in the plain indicates the presence of groundwater.
alder: useful properties and applications
tree has soft, but dense wood with a reddish tinge.Alder gray used in the manufacture of turning and joinery.It is resistant to rot.Popular in the furniture industry, also from her make matches, paper.
If there is constant humidity gets higher strength, so used in the construction of underwater structures, barrels, log cabins wells, mounting pillars.Shaving is a good package for fruit.
firewood gray alder are not very popular, they are well lit, but the heat did not keep.Previously they were used for burning out soot from the furnace.
bark is a good dye, it can help to give a red, black and yellow shades of tissue, skin and coat.
Gardeners using sprigs of alder are struggling with pests such as mice and mole crickets.Simply place them in beds and around fruit trees.
alder is very popular among beekeepers, pollen produced on shoots and young leaves before flowering.
is effective as a decorative hedge, but in this case requires a constant shearing.
Application medicine
For therapeutic purposes, using the bark, leaves and tree buds.The drugs, which include alder, have hemostatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, astringent effect.They are popular for the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.Also, these pieces of alder used for colds and rheumatism, are part of medicine and are suitable for the preparation of infusions.
Fresh leaves of the tree have a good diaphoretic effect, they contain phenol carbonic acids, provitamin A, ascorbic acid, vitamin C.
The structure of alder cones are alkaloids, fatty alcohols, fatty oil, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins.The latter two are in the cortex of the plant.
