Red Alder

Alnus Rubra (Red Alder)

Also called Western Alder & Oregon Alder.

Found in Alaska, Washington & Oregon.

Identified in Mineral Creek Bog.

Deciduous tree that grows up to 25m tall.

Red Alders grow quickly but have short life span. 50yrs is considered old for this tree.

Grows in moist rocky soil, bogs & along beaches.

Leaves are 5-15cm long, oval shape with pointy ends. Leaves have a wavy appearance, green color, with a rusty color underneath. Top of leaf is smooth, while bottom appears hairy.

Young twigs appear hairy, becoming red with light dots.

Flowering April to May. Both male & female flowers hang in catkins, which look like 7.5 - 15cm long spikes.

The fruits are cone shaped clusters 12-25mm long, containing nutlets or seeds. Seeds mature in August; dropping in the fall and early winter. The cones remain on the tree throughout the winter.

The bark is grayish white.

When the wood is cut it's white, then turns reddish brown.

Red Alder wood is believed to be the best type of wood for smoking fish, especially salmon. The wood is soft, lightweight and smooth. It is used to make bowls, rattles, mask and a variety of other things.

The bark is used to make dye. Different variations of color can be obtained by using bark of different ages as well as the quantity used.

Red Alder bark has been highly valued for it's medicinal properties by indigenous people of Alaska and those along the northwest coast. It's been used as a tonic to treat respiratory aliments, as well as wounds and skin infections. Red Alder is also know to have strong antibiotic properties.

Red Alder provides food for several creatures. Mountain beavers, deer and elk make use of the bark, twigs and branches. Mice, voles and birds eat the seeds. A variety of insects use the trees as well; for example, alder aphids, alder flea beetle, flat head wood borer, caterpillars and ambrosia beetles.

Resources:

Red Alder A State Of Knowledge -- Biology and Ecology of Red Alder By Constance A. Harrington. http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/pnw_gtr669/pnw_gtr669b.pdf

Plants Of The Pacific Northwest Coast By Pojar & Mackinnon

Alaska Trees And Shrubs By Leslie A. Viereck, Elbert Luther Little, David F. Murray, George W. Argus

Pacific Northwest Research Station- Science Findings. Issue #63 May 2004

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/sciencef/scifi63.pdf

US Forrest Service

http://www.fs.fed.us/cgi-bin/texis/searchallsites/search.allsites/