Manchurian alder

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Manchurian alder
• Siberian alder

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Alnus sibirica f. acutiloba
• Alnus incana var. glauca
• Alnus sibirica f. hirsutoides
• Alnus hirsuta var. microphylla
• Alnus hirsuta var. sibirica
• Alnus tinctoria var. microphylla
• Alnus incana subsp. hirsuta
• Alnus incana subsp. tchangbokii
• Alnus incana var. hirsuta
• Alnus tinctoria var. velutina
• Alnus inokumae
• Alnus tinctoria f. hirsutoides
• Alnus incana var. sibirica
• Alnus tinctoria var. glabra
• Alnus incana var. tinctoria
• Alnus sibirica var. tinctoria
• Alnus sibirica
• Alnus sibirica f. obtusiloba
• Alnus sibirica var. hirsuta
• Alnus sibirica var. oxyloba
• Alnus sibirica f. glabra
• Alnus sibirica var. paucinervis
• Alnus tinctoria f. acutiloba
• Alnus tinctoria
• Alnus hirsuta f. macrophylla
• Alnus hirsuta f. inokumae
• Alnus tinctoria var. obtusiloba
• Alnus hirsuta f. sibirica
• Alnus tinctoria var. mandschurica
• Alnus incana f. hirsuta

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fagales, situated in the family Betulaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Alnus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across the rugged terrains of Northern Asia. Within the vast region of Siberia, it can be found growing in Buryatiya, Chita, and Yakutiya. Its presence extends further east into the diverse landscapes of the Russian Far East. Specifically, the species inhabits the Amur region and stretches as far as Kamchatka. Consequently, these varied locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in specific Siberian and Far Eastern ecosystems.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Alnus hirsuta is closely tied to riparian environments, specifically thriving along the banks of small rivers and rivulets within the taiga biome. As a species adapted to these moisture-rich corridors, it occupies a specialized niche where the soil remains consistently damp due to the proximity of flowing water. This preference for riverine margins allows the plant to benefit from the alluvial deposits and the specific hydrological cycles characteristic of subarctic and boreal woodland systems. By stabilizing these banks, the plant plays a functional role in the local ecosystem, mitigating erosion and providing organic matter to the aquatic-terrestrial interface of the taiga landscape.

Habitat :

Banks of small rivers and rivulet in the taiga

Life history

The life history of Alnus hirsuta is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody branches above the soil surface, a growth form that allows it to dominate its habitat. Its seasonal rhythm is defined by its deciduous nature, meaning it sheds its foliage annually, typically in response to seasonal changes in temperature and light availability. This combination of a multi-year lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and a deciduous growth habit governs its physiological processes and its ability to persist and adapt within its environment over many years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Alnus hirsuta is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which stands as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. This independent, non-parasitic species typically exhibits a plant height ranging from a minimum of 4 meters to a maximum of 20 meters. In terms of its ecological habitat and positioning, the plant is terrestrial in nature, functioning as a terrestrial organism rather than an aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic species.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height min:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alnus hirsuta is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its specific environmental niche. Morphologically, the plant features orbicular leaf forms that are distinguished by finely toothed margins, providing a specific surface area for gas exchange and transpiration. The leaves are smooth in texture, lacking both leaf thorns and leaf spines, which influences its structural interaction with the surrounding ecosystem. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a stem specific density (SSD) of approximately 490 mg/cm³, a physical trait that reflects its internal tissue density and contributes to its overall structural integrity and mechanical properties.

Leaf form :

orbicular

Leaf margin :

finely toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

490 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Alnus hirsuta is characterized by a specific phenological window and specialized seed production. The flowering period typically commences in April and concludes in May, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit significant variation in mass; the individual seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.000095 g to a maximum of 0.00102 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.000641 g.

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Seed mass max:

0.00102 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00064089275 g

Seed mass min:

9.5e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Alnus hirsuta has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hirsutenone, PLATYPHYLLENONE, platyphyllone.

Hirsutenone

1. FEBS letters

PLATYPHYLLENONE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

platyphyllone

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Alnus hirsuta has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer.

Breast cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Alnus hirsuta has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CHCl3 extract, bark.

Chcl3 extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Bark

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin