Alder produces excellent wood. Alder: medicinal cones and royal firewood What a linden tree birch alder looks like
A real harbinger of the onset of spring, which at first glance seems like the most ordinary tree, is alder. Photos of the tree convey all the beauty of such a beauty. Its slender trunk is covered with smooth bark; its rounded leaves do not change color over the season and remain green until the onset of frost.
Alder tree: description
A photo of a representative of the forest shows the richness of its crown, although the latter seems sparse due to the uneven, loose arrangement of the branches. The flowering process begins in early spring when there is still snow everywhere; The wind plays the role of pollinator.
What does alder look like? The tree blooms with earrings, divided into female and male, which in the process of ripening (September-October) acquire a red-brown color. Female ones are about 1 cm long, located in groups of up to 8 pieces and during the ripening period they become woody like cones.
Alder as part of a natural complex
100 years is the average age, and 150 years is the maximum age of such a natural specimen as an alder tree. Where does such an inconspicuous, but very useful tree? Alder prefers wet soils(these are the banks of streams, rivers and various reservoirs) and often forms thickets, so-called alder forests: in pure form or mixed. In the north it is believed that alder is a coniferous tree, in southern regions it forms mixed forests together with oak and beech. The plant coexists well with birch, spruce, oak, linden and aspen.
Alder is a valuable honey plant. Resinous substances are released from its buds and leaves, which serve bees to produce propolis.
Dry leaves of the plant are excellent for feeding to livestock.
Black alder - deciduous tree
The most widespread among the known varieties is black alder, which received its name from the black bark of an adult tree. IN Greek mythology Black alder, also characterized by sticky, shiny leaves, is associated with the festival of fire and the arrival of spring. Alder (a photo of the tree is given in the article) loves light and moisture; growing in moist places, it can create alder swamps. At the same time, it does not tolerate standing water at all.
The growth of black alder, which is considered a loner because it does not accept trees of other species, is quite rapid. The plant can reach 20 meters. Flowering begins in April, and the fruits (cones with a narrow wing) ripen only at the end of next spring.
Black (sticky) alder, more capricious compared to other varieties, is included in the Red Book of Moldova, Kazakhstan and some regions of Russia. This tree is used to landscape parks and squares; thanks to its widely branched root system, it is planted along reservoirs, thus strengthening the banks.
Beauty with brown earrings
Alder, a tree whose description allows us to highlight its main characteristics, is an equally popular species of the birch family. Gray alder can reach a height of up to 16 meters. Therefore, it is planted to secure ravines and coastal areas. Propagated by root suckers, cuttings and seeds.
What does alder look like? The tree has a gray, slightly curved trunk, gray leaves, and brown catkins. These are the main characteristics by which alder can be distinguished from other plants. Frost resistance and the ability to grow on depleted soils and wetlands are the advantages that characterize the alder tree.
Description, photo of the green beauty, an integral part natural complex, will allow you to get to know her better.
Alder in decorative arts
Growth is quite active, especially at a young age; during this period, wild thickets most often form. Thanks to such characteristics as the uniformity of the wood structure, its softness, viscosity and pliability, alder is a tree that has found wide application in industry. Its wood has long been used as an optimal material for artistic carving and is the basis for creating carved dishes, decorative panels and sculptures. Dry distillation from alder produces coals, which artists use in their work, creating future masterpieces, and wood vinegar. The sagging on the trunks has decorative value.
Industrial Application
Alder is easy to process, well planed, sawn, and glued. Excellent resistance to polishing, varnishing, staining; When screwing in screws, it does not split; when driving nails, it can peel off. When dried, wood, which is also used in the production of gunpowder, does not change its properties: it dries quickly, does not warp or crack. Thanks to these qualities, alder is used in the manufacture musical instruments and details for them.
Alder wood is resistant to water and does not rot, therefore it is used as a material in the production of bridges, rafts, underwater structures and supports. Of the metals, it is critical of iron and in places where iron nails are driven in it will cause a rusting reaction and, as a result, the appearance of gray circles at the points of contact. Does not like contact with cement mortar, which causes an alkaline reaction inside the wood tissue and its rotting.
Alder is a tree that is widely used in the manufacture of plywood and particle boards. Its shavings are added as a binding antiseptic in the production of slabs from beech, spruce, and pine shavings.
Alder as a building material
Alder wood is used in the construction of wooden houses, carved entrance gates, well sheathing, production and restoration of furniture and decorative interior parts. Smooth trunks are used as fence posts.
This is an excellent material for the manufacture of packaging boxes, pallets, coils, and various casting molds. Alder intended for outdoor construction requires mandatory treatment with an antiseptic. Otherwise, the tree will begin to rot, especially in close contact with open ground.
IN industrial production Alder wood is used to make paper, and the waste is used as fuel. Alder firewood is considered high-quality heating fuel. They used to be used to burn off excess soot from pipes. Such firewood burns well and is characterized by high heat transfer and the absence of waste. It’s not for nothing that they are called “royal”, because they are old times heated the royal chambers.
Black alder bark is a first-class material for producing dyes for wool and leather, producing red, black and yellow colors. The brown dye comes from the buds.
Use of alder in folk medicine
The beneficial properties of alder are widely used in medicine: traditional and folk, mostly using cones, leaves and bark of the tree, which contains tannins. Decoctions and infusions of cones and bark are taken as an astringent, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, antibacterial and hemostatic agent. A purulent wound will heal quickly if a black alder tree leaf is applied to it.
For constipation and hemorrhoids, use vodka infusion of earrings; for diathesis and eczema, they are treated with a decoction of flowers collected at the beginning of the flowering period. A decoction of alder cones is excellent for normalizing the natural intestinal microflora after taking antibiotics and is used in the treatment of diseases gastrointestinal tract. This remedy also helps with inflammatory processes nasopharynx and throat, colds, sore throats and pharyngitis.
IN folk medicine for nosebleeds, it is recommended to put tampons in the nose fresh leaves alders A decoction of them helps well with gout, arthritis, and joint pain. To prepare dry baths, fresh, just collected alder leaves are heated in the sun or in an oven and spread in a thick layer on the bed where the patient is placed. They cover the entire body and wrap it with a warm blanket on top. The duration of such a session is about an hour. The best effect will be if the leaves are placed in a deep tub, and when they warm up, you need to plant the patient there up to the neck. Treatment with birch leaves is carried out in the same way.
Alder brooms, which clean, disinfect, tone the skin and give strength and vitality, are very popular during bath procedures.
Alder in veterinary medicine
In a number of countries, fresh alder leaves are used to control fleas in domestic animals. They are scattered on the floor. A concentrated decoction of the leaves was recently used in the fight against bedbugs - for treating walls and washing beds. The cones were given to pets for bloody diarrhea.
Due to the vitamin C, carotene and protein content, black alder leaves are widely used in traditional medicine. A dry extract is produced from the cones - hops, which is used for dysentery; from wood - activated carbon tablets.
In cooking, sawdust and firewood are used to smoke meat and fish.
The collection of cones begins in late autumn and continues until March. To do this, the ends of the branches on which the cones grow are carefully trimmed with pruning shears, after which the latter are torn off. Fallen fruits are unsuitable for use. The collected raw materials, spread out in an even layer, are dried under a canopy or in attics in a ventilated area. IN warm weather pine cones are dried on outdoors, stirring occasionally. The shelf life of fruits is 3 years.
Every year, with the arrival of spring, many garden plants rush to announce the approach of warmer weather. Alder also gives an excellent hint to gardeners and flower growers. It is in spring that the plant becomes especially attractive. Its rounded leaves and lush crown do not lose their green color until frost.
general information
The description of alder (olha) suggests a fairly dense crown, but due to the uneven arrangement of branches it looks slightly sparse. When there is still snow on the streets, this tree is already beginning to bloom.
When flowering, very attractive earrings appear on the alder, and they are both male and female. If they are green when formed, then at the ripening stage they become brownish-red.
Female earrings grow up to 1 cm in length and are located on the branches in clusters of up to 7-9 pieces. Male formations grow up to 6-9 cm. Leaves on the plant appear only after it blooms.
The fruits of the plant are greenish cones. During the entire winter period they are closed, but with the arrival of spring they open and seeds fall out of them into the ground. The cones ripen only in October - November. Summer residents note that alder leaves are an excellent substitute for fertilizers, as they contain a large amount of nitrogen.
The average lifespan of a plant is 100 years. However, there are also long-lived trees, whose age reaches 150-160 years. Most often, this plant is found in places with moist soil. It is for this reason that alder mainly grows near bodies of water.
How pomegranate grows and where the fruit is grown: description, varieties
If suitable conditions for alder are determined in the territory, then thickets of trees - alder forests - are formed on it. In the regions of the north, this plant is found in the form coniferous tree. IN southern regions it is not very common and occurs in mixed forests along with beech and oak. The plant feels great next to ordinary aspen, linden, oak, spruce and birch and some shrubs.
This tree can perform not only decorative functions, it is also a good honey plant. In the process of development, alder forms leaves and buds containing many resinous compounds from which bees make propolis.
Black and gray variety
Black alder gets its name from the color of its bark. This plant has been known since ancient Greece. According to myths, it was often used in fire festivals as a symbol of the arrival of spring. This culture is light-loving and tolerates high humidity well. But standing water in the place where alder grows can destroy the tree. At the same time, its root system may rot. Stagnant moisture can negatively affect the appearance of alder.
The black variety has fast growth. The height of an adult tree sometimes reaches 22 m. Flowers on the black variety can be seen already in early April.
This plant variety needs special care. It is noteworthy that ebony is protected in the following places:
- some regions of Russia;
- Kazakhstan;
- Moldova.
The type in question is sometimes used for landscaping public gardens, parks and private areas. It is best to plant such an alder next to ponds, where it will not only serve as decoration, but also strengthen the bank, since it has a very branched root system.
The gray variety of alder grows up to 17 m. It is often used to strengthen ravines and coastal areas. It propagates by seed or cuttings.
The trunk of the gray tree has a characteristic grayish color. Summer residents note the high resistance of this tree to frost. In addition, gray alder can fully develop even in depleted soils and wetlands.
The best varieties of cherries - description of sweet and early varieties
Application area
In addition to its attractive appearance, alder also has beneficial properties. This tree grows quite quickly, often creating wild thickets. At the stage of active development, the wood of the plant has a uniform structure, so it can be easily processed. This allows it to be used in the industrial field.
Alder is a very popular material, which is used by specialists in artistic carving. Sculptures, decorative panels and kitchen utensils are made from it. Of particular value are alder trunks decorated with beads.
Parts of this plant are actively used in alternative medicine. The bark, leaves and cones contain tannin compounds. Tinctures and decoctions are made from them. Parts of this plant have the following beneficial effects:
- hemostatic;
- antibacterial;
- disinfectant;
- anti-inflammatory;
- astringent.
So, you can put an alder leaf on a festering wound, and it will soon heal completely. Alcohol tincture of alder catkins helps with constipation and hemorrhoids. To cope with eczema or diathesis, you can use decoctions based on its flowers.
- (lat. Alnus) - a genus of trees and shrubs of the Birch family, uniting about 30 species common in the Northern Hemisphere, a fast-growing tree reaching full development for 50-60 years, but can live 150 years. The height of its trunk can be 15-20 m, diameter - 15-25 cm.
IN middle lane There are two main types of alder: gray and black, so named for the color of the bark.
Most alder species bloom before the leaves open, and the appearance of their pendulous male catkins is one of the most early signs spring. Some species bloom in late summer or early autumn. Short, erect female catkins turn into woody cones as the fruits ripen (by next spring). Alder can be easily recognized both in summer and winter by these cones that remain on the tree all year round and are not discarded long after the seeds have spilled out. No one else European species deciduous trees no such characteristic distinctive feature. The shoots are bare or drooping, of different colors, with whitish lenticels. Leaves only on growth shoots, alternate, simple, entire, serrated or lobed-toothed, of various shapes.
Alder forests (alder forests, alder forests) are soft-leaved forests, the stands of which are dominated by one of the tree species of alder. Depending on the edifier, there are black alder forests (black alder forests), gray alder forests (gray alder forests), etc., which in classification terms correspond to individual forest formations. The main tracts of alder forests are concentrated in North America(mainly red alder plantings, in countries East Asia, as well as in the mountains Central Europe. Alder forests are also widespread in Belarus, Ukraine (Polesie), and the Baltic countries. In Russia - in the Kaliningrad and Bryansk regions, in the north of the Russian Plain, less - in the Urals, in Siberia, in Far East and in the Caucasus mountains. The total area of alder forests in the European part of Russia is about 1.6 million hectares, with a timber reserve of over 170 million m3, including black alder forests - 1.0 million hectares and 110 million m3, respectively. The rest is mostly gray alder. Other alder formations in Russia are of no economic importance.
Alder wood
Alder is a diffusely vascular, coreless sapwood species. Its wood is white when freshly cut, but in air it turns from orange-yellow to yellow-red or reddish-brown. The sap only stains the surface layers of wood. Alder wood is painted into a stable light chocolate color with a pinkish tint only after it has been dried and aged. The annual layers are faintly visible in all sections; the vessels are not visible. Rare false-wide heart-shaped rays are visible on all sections. Often there are heart-shaped repetitions, which in longitudinal sections look like brownish or brown or curved narrow stripes, closed contours, dashes, spots that look like a core.
Freshly cut alder wood has a moisture content of about 110%. Maximum humidity during water absorption is 185%.
Alder (black and gray) is a low-density species. The average density of alder wood at standard humidity (12%) is 525 kg/m3, absolutely dry - 595 kg/m3, base density - 430 kg/m3.
Alder wood is not particularly durable, but has a fairly uniform structure, making it easier to process, and a beautiful reddish color. Smoother and thicker trunks, therefore, are used for crafts, for carpentry and turning, but the bulk of alder wood goes into firewood, which is usually valued 10-30% cheaper than birch wood. Alder shavings and sawdust are used for smoking meat and fish. Alder firewood is used to burn off soot in chimneys(especially after pine trees).
Alder wood is soft, light, cuts well, warps little when dried, has good dimensional stability, and pickles and polishes well. Therefore, it was previously widely used for making furniture. Including expensive, due to the fact that alder can be “finished” to look like mahogany. Alder is suitable for carving. It is also used to produce veneer, both peeled (for plywood) and planed (for finishing furniture and other products).
Alder wood lasts under water for a long time and is therefore used for small underwater structures. Alder is easy to paint, pickle and polish. The ridges lend themselves well to peeling. In the modern furniture industry, gray and black alder are treated with ammonia (ammonia vapor) and then pressed. After such processing, alder wood is much superior to walnut wood in terms of technical and decorative properties. Dyeing gives it an expressive textured pattern. This is achieved due to the fact that the annual layers have different densities, and dyes are absorbed by individual areas with different strengths. For deep dyeing, iron sulfate, natural chromium and other mordants are used.
Alder is readily used for easel and chamber sculpture, wall carved panels and decorative tableware. High-quality coals are burned from it for drawing. The wood of alder burls, which have an expressive textured pattern, is highly valued.
Black alder wood is resistant to moisture, so it was always used where contact with water is inevitable: in bridge construction (piles), house construction (gutters), and cooperage.
Dyes for cloth, silk and leather were obtained from the bark of black alder, which were used to dye black, red and yellow colors. Using a decoction of alder bark, fishermen painted their nets a camouflage color, after which they became much stronger, and carpenters used alder wood to look like walnut.
Alder charcoal was valued for making hunting gunpowder. Charcoal obtained from alder is considered the best for forges.