Gray alder belongs to the birch family. It is a tall tree that has medicinal properties.
The tree has the smallest height among other alder species. It grows up to 20 m. Alder can grow in the form of a shrub, the shape of the crown is ovoid. The bark is light gray, smooth. Cracks may appear over the years. Barrel up to 0,5 in diameter.
Gray alder leaves are similar to birch
Alder lives for about 50 years, rarely lives up to 100 years. After 10 years of life, its growth slows down.
Description of the tree:
- Leaves are not sticky, oval, tapered ends. The shade is darker than that of sticky alder. The length of the leaf plate is up to 10 cm, the width is up to 7 cm. From the bottom it is covered with a gray downy.
- The tree is self-pollinated, pollination occurs with the help of the wind. Alder blooms in March or early April, 2 weeks earlier than sticky alder.
- Male and female flowers are formed on the tree. Male earrings are collected in inflorescences of 3-5 pcs. They are short and tight. The earrings contain pollen that attracts bees. The female branches are located under the male branches or at the tops of the branches. They are collected in 8-10 pieces. on one peduncle. Flowers are elliptical, black-brown, 7-8 cm in diameter.
- Fruits ripen in autumn. They are nuts up to 1 cm long. The photo shows the fruits of gray alder. In the spring, they crack and seeds fall out of them. Fruiting is annual. Shoot seedlings bear fruit for 5-7 years.
Alder forms abundant root growth and shoots on stumps. You can propagate a tree with these cuttings. Alder also reproduces by self-seeding. Seeds are carried over long distances by the wind.
The tree grows and multiplies rapidly, filling desert areas. It prefers moist, calcareous soil, but it can even be planted in sandy soil. Alder restores soil fertility, saturates it with nitrogen. Feels most comfortable near a pond.
When growing alder, consider the following recommendations:
- Diseases and pests appear extremely rarely, unless the soil is too wet or dry for a long time.
- Water alder during hot summers. In other cases, the tree does not need watering.
- It is not necessary to feed the alder.
The tree is winter-hardy and drought-resistant.
This type of alder can be found more often in forests where the soil is moist, less often in the forest-steppe zone. It grows in the form of a bush near water bodies and swamps. It grows next to willow and black alder, the height of the latter can reach 35 m in height.