Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) • Earth.com

Thinleaf alder

(Alnus incana tenuifolia)

galery
en

Description

It is a small- to medium-sized tree 15�20 m (49�66 ft) tall with smooth grey bark even in old age, its life span being a maximum of 60 to 100 years. The leaves are matte green, ovoid, 5�11 cm (2�4 1?4 in) long and 4�8 cm (1 1?2�3 1?4 in) broad. The flowers are catkins, appearing early in spring before the leaves emerge, the male catkins pendulous and 5�10 cm (2�4 in) long, the female catkins 1.5 cm (5?8 in) long and one cm broad when mature in late autumn. The seeds are small, 1�2 mm (0.04�0.08 in) long, and light brown with a narrow encircling wing. The grey alder has a shallow root system, and is marked not only by vigorous production of stump suckers, but also by root suckers, especially in the northern parts of its range. The wood resembles that of the black alder, but is somewhat paler and of little economic value.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order:Fagales
Family:Betulaceae
Genus:Alnus
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