This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Alnus rhombifolia
  • White Alder

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Alnus genus in the family Betulaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Nitrogen fixer
    Nitrogen fixer
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementshigh
    High
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Loamy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 7
    Zone 7
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Alnus rhombifolia has 0 edible uses listed
Alnus rhombifolia has 0 material uses listed
Alnus rhombifolia has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The freshly harvested inner bark is emetic but is alright once it has been dried[1].

Edible uses

Notes

Catkins - raw or cooked. A bitter flavour[1]. Inner bark[2]. No more information is given, but inner bark is often dried and can be used as a flavouring in soups or can be mixed with cereal flours when making bread etc[K].

Flowers

Unknown use

Inner bark

Unknown use

Material uses

The bark and the strobils are a source of tannin[3].

The roots have been used to make baskets[2]. The inner bark can be dried, ground into a powder then mixed with flour and water for use as a dye[2]. The colour is not specified[2]. The fresh bark can be chewed and used as a red dye[2].

Wood - light, soft, not strong, brittle, close and straight-grained, very durable in water[3]. It is of limited value as a low-grade lumber, but is used principally for fuel[4].

Unknown part

Baby care
Basketry
Dye
Fuel
Tannin
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The bark is astringent, diaphoretic, emetic, haemostatic, stomachic and tonic[1][2]. A decoction of the dried bark is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, haemorrhages in consumption, stomach aches and to facilitate child birth[2]. Externally it can be used as a wash for babies with skin diseases, nappy rash etc[2]. A poultice of the wood is applied to burns[2].

Unknown part

Astringent
Birthing aid
Diaphoretic
Emetic
Haemostatic
Skin
Stomachic
TB
Tonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Nitrogen fixer

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe and only just covered[5]. Spring sown seed should also germinate successfully so long as it is not covered[200, K]. The seed should germinate in the spring as the weather warms up. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots. If growth is sufficient, it is possible to plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer, otherwise keep them in pots outdoors and plant them out in the spring.

If you have sufficient quantity of seed, it can be sown thinly in an outdoor seed bed in the spring[6]. The seedlings can either be planted out into their permanent positions in the autumn/winter, or they can be allowed to grow on in the seed bed for a further season before planting them.

Cuttings of mature wood, taken as soon as the leaves fall in autumn, outdoors in sandy soil.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Alnus rhombifolia. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a heavy soil and a damp situation[7][8]. Grows well in heavy clay soils[8]. Tolerates very infertile sites[5].

A fairly fast-growing but short-lived species, reaching its maximum size in 50 - 60 years[4].

This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Alnus rhombifolia. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Alnus rhombifolia.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Alnus rhombifolia
Genus
Alnus
Family
Betulaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2]
Medicinal uses
[1][2]
Material uses & Functions
[3][2][4]
Botanic
[8][9][5]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Nitrogen fixer
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
7
Heat Zone
?
Water
high
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Canopy
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
vigorous
Mature Size
12 x meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
monoecious

"image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
  2. ? 2.002.012.022.032.042.052.062.072.082.092.102.11 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.2 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.2 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  6. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
  7. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.2 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  9. ? Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press (1955-00-00)

"image:Alnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Alnus_rhombifolia&oldid=74957"
Facts about "Alnus rhombifolia"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyBetulaceae +
Belongs to genusAlnus +
Functions asNitrogen fixer +
Has binomial nameAlnus rhombifolia +
Has common nameWhite Alder +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partFlowers + and Inner bark +
Has edible useUnknown use +
Has environmental toleranceHigh wind +
Has fertility typeWind +
Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
Has growth rateVigorous +
Has hardiness zone7 +
Has imageAlnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useBaby care +, Basketry +, Dye +, Fuel +, Tannin + and Wood +
Has mature height12 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAstringent +, Birthing aid +, Diaphoretic +, Emetic +, Haemostatic +, Skin +, Stomachic +, TB + and Tonic +
Has primary imageAlnus rhombifolia NPS.jpg +
Has search namealnus rhombifolia + and white alder +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceLoamy +, Clay + and Heavy clay +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameAlnus rhombifolia +
Has water requirementshigh +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia +, Alnus rhombifolia + and Alnus rhombifolia +