Alnus glutinosa NS8049 07Jun2020 MP

Alnus glutinosa NS7155 03May2011 MP

Alnus glutinosa NS7748 10Apr2016 MP

The fruits are distinctive.

Alnus glutinosa NS6361 9Sep2017 MP

This shows both male and female cones ready to over-winter in October.

Alnus glutinosa NS5765 19Oct2018

Alnus incana NS7951 20July2020 PW

Showing the male catkins and smooth bark.

Alnus incana NS 5667 18Feb18 PW

Alnus cordata 24May2017 NS6067 MP

Note the tufts of orange hairs under the leaves next to the midrib.

Alnus cordata NS5665 17Sep2018 PW

The fruits are larger and stalked.

Alnus cordata NS5665 12Aug2017 PW

Showing the cordate leaf shape.

Alnus cordata NS5365 27Sep2018 PW

The orange hairs are very clearly seen in the leaf axils on the mid-rib.

Alnus cordata NS5365 27Sep2018 PW

Alnus species - Alder

There are three common varieties of Alder in VC77.

Alnus glutinosa, Alder, is by far the commonest. It favours wet ground and river banks but is also widely planted.

The bark is fissured. Buds are stalkless and purple (diagnostic). The leaves are toothed, about as long as broad, flat-ended or with a shallow notch at the tip. Leaves are hairless except for a few hairs underneath in the axils of veins, and are on glabrous twigs which have stalked side-buds. The male catkins are long and the fruits (cones) are persisting and woody.

Alnus incana, Grey Alder, is commonly planted in parks and roadsides. The bark is smooth and the twigs pubescent. The leaves are greyish underneath, broad, toothed and come to a point.

Alnus cordata, Italian Alder, is unlike the other Alders except for the fruit (cones). The leaves are dark glossy green, obviously heart-shaped (cordate), with lots of small, shallow, forward-pointing teeth. Underneath, the leaves have large tufts of orange hairs in the vein axils and long hairs flat on each side of the midrib.