Red Alder
TREES
GENUS/SPECIES
Alnus rubra
FAMILY
Betulaceae
SYNONYMS
Information not available
DISTRIBUTION
Western US
- SE Alaska southward to west central California
- Inland to central Washington and Oregon
- Disjunct populations in N Idaho
Human Product Number - 217
Veterinary Product Number - 217
Comments
The rapidly growing red alder, the largest native alder, may exceed 75 feet in height and is the most abundant hardwood in much of the region west of the Cascades. It is particularly adapted to the coastal fog belt below an elevation of 2500 feet. Trunks are light in color and may be covered by lichens on older trees. The doubly serrated, thick leaves are about 3-5 inches long and up to 3 inches wide. The male and female flowers occur in separate catkins on the same tree, and the pollen is released during the spring. The female catkins ripen into small woody cones almost an inch in length.
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