Practical
Plants

Alnus rhombifolia

White Alder

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Alnus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
12 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The freshly harvested inner bark is emetic but is alright once it has been dried[3].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Catkins - raw or cooked. A bitter flavour[3]. Inner bark[6]. 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].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Inner bark

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The bark is astringent, diaphoretic, emetic, haemostatic, stomachic and tonic[3][6]. A decoction of the dried bark is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, haemorrhages in consumption, stomach aches and to facilitate child birth[6]. Externally it can be used as a wash for babies with skin diseases, nappy rash etc[6]. A poultice of the wood is applied to burns[6].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Birthing aid
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Haemostatic
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
TB
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The bark and the strobils are a source of tannin[9]. The roots have been used to make baskets[6]. The inner bark can be dried, ground into a powder then mixed with flour and water for use as a dye[6]. The colour is not specified[6]. The fresh bark can be chewed and used as a red dye[6]. Wood - light, soft, not strong, brittle, close and straight-grained, very durable in water[9]. It is of limited value as a low-grade lumber, but is used principally for fuel[5].

Product or use
Baby care
Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Tannin
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
Western N. America - British Columbia to California.
Habitat
Usually found in rocky or gravelly soils along the sides of streams, in canyon bottomlands and gulches, from near sea level to 2400 metres[7][5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe and only just covered[4]. 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[8]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a heavy soil and a damp situation[1][2]. Grows well in heavy clay soils[2]. Tolerates very infertile sites[4]. A fairly fast-growing but short-lived species, reaching its maximum size in 50 - 60 years[5]. 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[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  7. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

  8. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  9. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

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