Alder Tree Identification (Leaves, Bark, Catkins, Strobiles) + Comparison to Hazel

This video provides the information that helps you identify the Alder tree (Alnus sp.). It looks at everything from the color of the wood, through the color and texture of the bark and the most tell-tale identifying features of an Alder – the male and female flowers (called Catkins and Strobiles, respectively).

Catkins are small elongated flowers hanging from the branches of a tree. Catkins bear scaly bracts and lack petals.

Strobiles are a cone-like fruit consisting of tightly layered sporophylls on a central axis. Strobiles resemble pine cone, but are smaller and grow on a deciduous tree which sheds leaves in the fall.

Because Hazels (Corylus) also bears catkins similar to those of Alders, I also compare the look and differences between catkins of a Hazel and an Alder and while I’m at it, I further compare their bark and the trunk structures. Whereas both Alders and Hazels are trees from the Birch family (Betulaceae), they are somewhat similar looking, but differences highlighted in this video should make it easier even for a novice botanist or a nature enthusiast to distinguish the two and identify each fairly reliably.

While talking about Alders, I also briefly touch basis on the health benefits of the tree, its uses as a potential food source, the fact that Alders are comparably fast growing but relatively short living trees, and the importance the Alders play in how they fertilize the soil with nitrogen and that they can grow in even disturbed ground.

Whereas I film the video in winter, neither the Alders nor the Hazels (nor any other deciduous trees) had any leaves on them, and for this reason I was unable to showcase the look of respective leaves, but because both are early blooming trees, they both already had growing male flowers (catkins) on them.

Source for Alder health benefits: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/8/1383/htm

I hope the video was helpful and educational for you, but please bear in mind that I’m not an expert and may be wrong about anything I say. Always do your own research and if you need an expert advice, do consult an actual expert. Please review my disclaimer at https://www.nophoneman.com/wild-edibles-disclaimer/

00:00 Identifying Alder wood by its color
02:23 Alder tree strobiles (female flowers) identification
03:46 Alder tree catkins (male flowers) identification
04:31 Alder tree leaves identification
04:51 Birch family
05:03 Alder tree bark identification
05:37 Lichen on Alder trees
07:07 Sign of winter nearing an end
07:17 Hazel tree catkins identification
08:30 Hazel tree bark identification
09:00 Hazel tree multiple trunk stems
09:25 Additional Alder tree information
10:00 Alder tree longevity
10:40 Alders and nitrogen
11:04 Alder edibility with catkins as source of protein
11:16 Anti-cancer properties of Alder bark
11:45 Alder bud

Keep rocking :o)

Mark
https://www.nophoneman.com/