Optical features
Since the alder is a birch plant, the deciduous tree has the catkins typical of this tree species. They are the preliminary stage of the later developed wing nuts. Due to its conspicuous appearance, it is easy for you to recognize the alder from its fruit heads.
- as a flower long catkins
- small nuts
- either winged
- or wingless
- are formed in cones
also read
- The blossom of the alder
- The buds of the alder
- Alder profile
Properties of different alder varieties
The cones are a characteristic feature of the alder, but externally differ a little from variety to variety. Here is an overview of the fruits of different types:
- Heart-leaved alder: woody, dark brown, up to 3 cm long
- Black alder: initially green, later dark brown, lignified
- Green alder: initially green, later dark brown, lignified
- Purple alder, initially green, later dark brown, woody
- Alnus company Erle: also initially green, but later much darker (almost black), woody, fruits stick to the branches even in winter
- Red alder: lignified, initially green, later dark brown to black
development
First, the alder forms elongated flowers, which are called catkins because of their shape and bushy appearance. These resemble the flowers of the hazel. They have either male or female flowers. An alder is usually bisexual, but a kitten will only be one or the other sex. In botany this property is called monoecious. The birch family has a unique characteristic in terms of further development: the female inflorescences lignify over time to cones. This process is unique among deciduous trees. And something else is quite rare: Alder cones remain on the tree even in winter. Even if the alder has long since shed its foliage, it is easy to recognize it by its cones. In the end, small wing nuts are formed that contain the seeds of the alder. The multiplication happens mainly via the wind.
