Basisdaten
description:
The Gray alder is very common between the Alps and the Urals. It is often planted as a pioneer plant in landfills, waste dumps and to fixing escarpment. The alder can fix nitrogen from the air and release into the ground again, which leads to the improvement of the soil.
Tree profile
name botanical:
Alnus incana
other name:
Speckled Alder
family:
Birch family (Betulaceae)
species:
deciduous tree
height:
8 - 20 m (26 - 66 ft)
leaf:
The leaves of Gray alder are ovoid and up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long and up to 8 cm (3.2 in) broad. The underside of the leaf is gray felted. The leaf margin is double serrated.
leaf shape:
ovoid
leaf margin:
serrated
leaf position:
alternate
fall foliage:
brownish
flowering:
March - April
blossom color:
yellow
blossom description:
The male flowers (catkins) are conspicuous, the female flowers are inconspicuous.
gender distribution:
monoecious
fruit:
Small woody cones, first green then dark brown.
branches:
The branches are smooth, gray and slightly tomentose.
bark:
The bark is light gray and smooth.
root:
Shallow-rooting plant, densely branched roots
location:
Sun to half-shade
soil:
sandy-loamy to loamy
ph value:
slightly acidic to alkaline
usage:
planting in groups, pioneer plant
