Common Alder
From KeyToNature
Alnus glutinosa
Birch family (Betulaceae)
Origin: Europe
Description: Tree up to 20m, with a conical outline. Bark greyish or brown. Leaves alternate, broadly ovate to almost circular, base rounded or heart-shaped, apex often notched, margins sharply double-toothed. Male flowers in pendulous catkins 2-6cm long, initially purple or green but becoming yellow as the pollen is shed. Female flowers in stalked clusters of 1 to 8. Fruit an ovoid, woody cone 10-30mm long.
Male catkins.
Tree with green cones from the current year and dark brown cones from the previous year.
Comments: The woody cone-like fruits are numerous and persist on the tree until spring or even later.
Similar trees:
- Italian Alder
