Alnus rhombifolia: Difference between revisions

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'''''Alnus rhombifolia''''', the '''White Alder''', is an [[alder]] tree native to western [[North America]], from [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] east to western [[Montana]], southeast to the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]], and south through the [[Peninsular Ranges]] and [[Colorado Desert]] oases in Southern [[California]]. <ref name="ucjeps">http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Alnus+rhombifolia . accessed 9/29/2010</ref> It occurs in [[riparian zone]] [[habitat]]s at an altitudes range of {{convert|100|–|2400|m|ft}}. <ref name=fna>Flora of North America: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500038 ''Alnus rhombifolia'']</ref><ref name=grin>Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?316543 ''Alnus rhombifolia'']</ref> While not reported in northern [[Baja California]], it has been predicted on the basis of its climatic adaptation to occur there also.<ref name=fna/> ''Alnus rhombifolia'' is primarily found in the [[California chaparral and woodlands|chaparral and woodlands]], [[montane]], and [[temperate forest]]s [[ecoregion]]s. <ref name="ucjeps"></ref>
'''''Alnus rhombifolia''''', the '''white alder''', is an [[alder]] tree native to western [[North America]], from [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] east to western [[Montana]], southeast to the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]], and south through the [[Peninsular Ranges]] and [[Colorado Desert]] oases in Southern [[California]]. <ref name="ucjeps">http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Alnus+rhombifolia . accessed 9/29/2010</ref> It occurs in [[riparian zone]] [[habitat]]s at an altitudes range of {{convert|100|–|2400|m|ft}}. <ref name=fna>Flora of North America: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500038 ''Alnus rhombifolia'']</ref><ref name=grin>Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?316543 ''Alnus rhombifolia'']</ref> While not reported in northern [[Baja California]], it has been predicted on the basis of its climatic adaptation to occur there also.<ref name=fna/> ''Alnus rhombifolia'' is primarily found in the [[California chaparral and woodlands|chaparral and woodlands]], [[montane]], and [[temperate forest]]s [[ecoregion]]s. <ref name="ucjeps"></ref>


==Description==
==Description==
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The [[flower]]s are produced in [[catkin]]s. The male catkins are pendulous, slender,{{convert|3|–|10|cm|in}} long, yellowish, and produced in clusters of two to seven; pollination is in early spring, before the leaves emerge. The female catkins are ovoid, when mature in autumn {{convert|10|–|22|mm|in}} long and {{convert|7|–|10|mm|in}} broad, on a {{convert|1|–|10|mm|in}} stem, superficially resembling a small [[conifer cone]]. <ref name="calphoto"></ref>The small winged [[seed]]s disperse through the winter, leaving the old woody, blackish 'cones' on the tree for up to a year after.<ref name=fna/><ref name="ucjeps"></ref><ref name=osu>Oregon State University: [http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/alrho.htm ''Alnus rhombifolia'']</ref>
The [[flower]]s are produced in [[catkin]]s. The male catkins are pendulous, slender,{{convert|3|–|10|cm|in}} long, yellowish, and produced in clusters of two to seven; pollination is in early spring, before the leaves emerge. The female catkins are ovoid, when mature in autumn {{convert|10|–|22|mm|in}} long and {{convert|7|–|10|mm|in}} broad, on a {{convert|1|–|10|mm|in}} stem, superficially resembling a small [[conifer cone]]. <ref name="calphoto"></ref>The small winged [[seed]]s disperse through the winter, leaving the old woody, blackish 'cones' on the tree for up to a year after.<ref name=fna/><ref name="ucjeps"></ref><ref name=osu>Oregon State University: [http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/alrho.htm ''Alnus rhombifolia'']</ref>


The White Alder is closely related to the [[Alnus rubra|Red Alder (''Alnus rubra'')]], differing in the leaf margins being flat, not curled under. Like other alders, it is able to [[nitrogen fixation|fix nitrogen]], and tolerates infertile soils.<ref name=osu/>
The white alder is closely related to the [[Alnus rubra|red alder (''Alnus rubra'')]], differing in the leaf margins being flat, not curled under. Like other alders, it is able to [[nitrogen fixation|fix nitrogen]], and tolerates infertile soils.<ref name=osu/>


==Medicinal use==
==Medicinal use==

Revision as of 12:27, 13 April 2012

Alnus rhombifolia
Foliage and fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Fagales
Family:
Betulaceae
Genus:
Alnus
Subgenus:
Alnus
Species:
A. rhombifolia
Binomial name
Alnus rhombifolia

Alnus rhombifolia, the white alder, is an alder tree native to western North America, from Washington east to western Montana, southeast to the Sierra Nevada, and south through the Peninsular Ranges and Colorado Desert oases in Southern California. [1] It occurs in riparian zone habitats at an altitudes range of 100–2,400 metres (330–7,870 ft). [2][3] While not reported in northern Baja California, it has been predicted on the basis of its climatic adaptation to occur there also.[2] Alnus rhombifolia is primarily found in the chaparral and woodlands, montane, and temperate forests ecoregions. [1]

Description

Alnus rhombifolia is a medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 15–25 metres (49–82 ft) (rarely to 35 metres (115 ft)) tall, with pale gray bark, smooth on young trees, becoming scaly on old trees. The leaves are alternate, rhombic to narrow elliptic, 4–10 centimetres (1.6–3.9 in) long and 2–5 centimetres (0.79–1.97 in) cm broad, with a finely serrated margin and a rounded to acute apex; they are thinly hairy below. [4]

The flowers are produced in catkins. The male catkins are pendulous, slender,3–10 centimetres (1.2–3.9 in) long, yellowish, and produced in clusters of two to seven; pollination is in early spring, before the leaves emerge. The female catkins are ovoid, when mature in autumn 10–22 millimetres (0.39–0.87 in) long and 7–10 millimetres (0.28–0.39 in) broad, on a 1–10 millimetres (0.039–0.394 in) stem, superficially resembling a small conifer cone. [4]The small winged seeds disperse through the winter, leaving the old woody, blackish 'cones' on the tree for up to a year after.[2][1][5]

The white alder is closely related to the red alder (Alnus rubra), differing in the leaf margins being flat, not curled under. Like other alders, it is able to fix nitrogen, and tolerates infertile soils.[5]

Medicinal use

Some Plateau Indian tribes used white alder for female health treatment needs. [6]

References

  1. ^ a b c http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Alnus+rhombifolia . accessed 9/29/2010
  2. ^ a b c Flora of North America: Alnus rhombifolia
  3. ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Alnus rhombifolia
  4. ^ a b http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-lifeform=any&rel-taxon=contains&where-taxon=Alnus+rhombifolia&rel-namesoup=matchphrase&where-namesoup=&rel-location=matchphrase&where-location=&rel-county=eq&where-county=any&rel-state=eq&where-state=any&rel-country=eq&where-country=any&where-collectn=any&rel-photographer=contains&where-photographer=&rel-kwid=equals&where-kwid=&max_rows=24 calphoto . accessed 9/29/2010
  5. ^ a b Oregon State University: Alnus rhombifolia
  6. ^ Hunn, Eugene S. (1990). Nch'i-Wana, "The Big River": Mid-Columbia Indians and Their Land. University of Washington Press. p. 351. ISBN 0-295-97119-3.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alnus rhombifolia.
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