common alder

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European alder
• European black alder
• black alder
• Alder
• Common alder
• Black Elder

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Betula alnus var. glutinosa
• Betula glutinosa
• Betula alnus subsp. glutinosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fagales, falling into the family Betulaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Alnus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, its presence is well-documented in the country of Denmark. It can also be found growing naturally throughout Finland. The species is common in the landscapes of both Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range extends further north into the territories of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Alnus glutinosa is primarily defined by its preference for hydric environments, typically colonizing habitats such as lakes, rivers, shores, and swamps. As a riparian specialist, it thrives in waterlogged soils and marginal wetlands where it plays a crucial role in stabilizing banks and facilitating nitrogen fixation through symbiotic relationships with Frankia bacteria. This species exhibits a significant altitudinal tolerance, occupying various landscapes across a broad elevational range that reaches a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. Its ability to endure periodically anaerobic soil conditions allows it to dominate transitional zones between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, forming dense thickets that provide essential structural complexity to wetland communities.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Habitat :

lakes, rivers, shores, swamps

Life history

The life history of Alnus glutinosa is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, exhibiting a robust and enduring presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, a structural strategy that allows it to thrive in diverse environments. The species follows a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage annually as part of its seasonal cycle. Demonstrating remarkable longevity, this plant can reach an impressive lifespan of up to 500 years, making it a long-lived component of its habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Lifespan :

500

Morphology

The morphology of Alnus glutinosa is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as an independent, non-parasitic organism. It is a self-supporting species, lacking any climbing or liana-like habits, and is primarily terrestrial in its ecological positioning. The plant exhibits significant variation in size, with a minimum height of 3 m and a maximum height reaching up to 25 m, while maintaining an average plant height of approximately 9.6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

9.6 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alnus glutinosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on specialized symbiotic relationships for nutrient acquisition. A defining physiological feature of this species is its ability to act as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing actinorhizal symbiosis to enhance nutrient availability in its environment. The plant's leaf morphology demonstrates significant variation, with a mean leaf width of 6 cm (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 6 cm) and a maximum leaf length of 8.5 cm, resulting in an average leaf size of approximately 34.6295 cm². These morphological traits contribute to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 147.56 cm²/g, reflecting the efficiency of its light interception and resource allocation. Furthermore, the structural integrity of the plant is supported by a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 410 mg/cm³.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

8.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

34.6295 cm²

Leaf width mean:

6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

147.56 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

410 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Alnus glutinosa is characterized by a dioecious sexual reproduction system, where asexual reproduction is absent and self-fertilization is also absent. The flowering process typically occurs in April, with the flowering period spanning from the start to the end of the month. Pollination is an abiotic process mediated by the wind (wind pollination syndrome). The plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits categorized as achenes, which have an average length of 0.75 cm. The resulting seeds are quite small, featuring a mean seed length of 2.7 mm (ranging from a minimum to maximum of 2.7 mm) and a consistent seed volume of 1.8 mm³. The seed mass is highly variable, with a mean mass of approximately 0.002033712 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.0009 g to a maximum of 0.0059 g. For the spread of its progeny, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on the wind to transport its seeds.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.75 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed length mean:

2.7 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0059 g

Seed mass mean:

0.002033712 g

Seed mass min:

9e-04 g

Seed volume max:

1.8 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Alnus glutinosa has 36 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, Alnincanone, Anthraquinones, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Brassinolide.

Tannins

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Alnincanone

1. Dr. Duke

Anthraquinones

1. Journal of medicinal food

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Brassinolide

1. Dr. Duke

CATECHIN

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Castasterone

1. Dr. Duke

Citrullin

1. Dr. Duke

Epicatechin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Journal of medicinal food

Activities

Alnus glutinosa has 161 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cathartic, Febrifuge, AGEs-Inhibitor, Aggregant.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Scientific reports

Cathartic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Febrifuge

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

AGEs-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Alnus glutinosa has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include wound healing, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations