''Alnus nitida'', the west Himalayan alder, is a species in the genus ''

Alnus Alders are trees comprising the genus ''Alnus'' in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus comprises about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few spec ...

'', native to Pakistan, the western Himalayas, and Nepal. It is a tree reaching 20 to 25m, preferring to live along the banks of rivers. It is used locally for timber and firewood, and as a

street tree Urban forestry is the care and management of single trees and tree populations in urban settings for the purpose of improving the urban environment. Urban forestry involves both planning and management, including the programming of care and ...

. The bark is used in some places for tanning and dyeing purposes. It grows well in heavy, clay soils and tolerates infertile soils. The leaves are thin, oval to ovate, 3-6 inches long and 2-3 inches wide. Female flowers appear first, followed by male

catkins A catkin or ament is a slim, cylindrical flower cluster (a spike), with inconspicuous or no petals, usually wind-pollinated (anemophilous) but sometimes insect-pollinated (as in ''Salix''). They contain many, usually unisexual flowers, arranged cl ...

s in September to October, which may be up to 19 cm long. The fruits are woody cones, typically 2.5-3.5 cm long. This tree may be attacked by the apple stem borer ('' Trirachys holosericeus''). In some places, the bark is used as an anti-inflammatory. One study examined its chemical components and concluded it has antioxidant potential.

References

nitida Flora of Nepal Flora of Pakistan Flora of West Himalaya Plants described in 1847 {{Fagales-stub