The New Student's Reference Work/Alder

Alder (äl' děr), hardy ornamental tree or shrub, fond of the water and the wood valued for its durability in water. It belongs to the genus Alnus; 20 species are known. A giant among these is the famous black alder of Europe, Asia and North Africa. The alder is widely distributed. In North America there are six species of trees and three of shrubs. "The alder by the river" is not only a very pretty feature of the landscape, but also of value to the land, keeping the banks from crumbling. The tree is not ranked with the more important timber trees, but is put to numerous uses; alder branches furnish the best charcoal for the making of gunpowder; from the bark and shoots is obtained a dye; the wood is turned to account in various small common articles, and is used for piles, pumps, watering-troughs, etc.

The Oregon or red alder is found in the far west, in Washington, Oregon and in the mountains of California down to Santa Barbara. It grows along streams, on canyon sides, and up on the mountains beyond the spruces. On Puget Sound the tree sometimes reaches the height of 80 feet. The bark is smooth and grayish, the leaves dark green. The wood is red-brown in color and is sometimes used for furniture.

The white alder also belongs to the west, borders mountain streams from Idaho down toward the Mexican line. It, too, is a tall tree for an alder. Very early in the year it puts forth great yellow catkins, at this season specially conspicuous and attractive. In the spring the unfolding leaves are covered with white hairs and the young shoots have a white crust. The bark is rough and dark brown in color.

The lanceleaf alder grows on high lands in Arizona and New Mexico. The paperleaf alder is another species found in the mountains of the west.

The seaside alder, an attractive small tree, is found fringing stream and pond in Delaware, Maryland and the Indian Territory. It is from 15 to 30 feet in height, its bark light brown, the leaves a gleaming dark green above, paler beneath. A feature of this tree is the beautiful yellow catkins with which it decks itself in September.

Plants of other orders are popularly called alders. Mention may be made of the winterberry or black alder, common on low grounds, closely related to the American holly, bearing thick-clustered coral-red berries, these appearing in September. The sweet pepperbush or white alder, a shrub in late summer adorned with fragrant white blossoms, grows along the New England coast.