''Alnus serrulata'', the hazel alder or smooth alder, is a thicket-forming shrub in the family Betulaceae. It is native to eastern North America and can be found from western

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

and southern

New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...

south to

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

and

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

Description

''Alnus serrulata'' is a large shrub or small tree that may grow up to high and in diameter. The scientific name originates from alnus which is an old name for alder; serrulata points to the finely-toothed leaf margins which it possesses. It takes about 10 yrs to mature. The plant prefers moist soil near streams, pond margins, and riversides. It usually has multiple stems from its base and reddish-green flowers. The broad, flat, dark green leaves are about 2 to 4 inches long. Leaf: The simple, round leaves are obovate, 2 to 5 in long, 1.2 to 2.8 in wide, obtuse, wider at middle, and V-shaped base. Veins are pinnate and conspicuous. Leaves have a smooth texture above and hairy texture below. The upper side of the leaves are dark green and the undersides are pale green. Flower: The flowers are monoecious, meaning that both sexes are found on a single plant. Male (Staminate) catkins are 1.6-2.4 in long; female (Pistillate) catkins are 1/2 in long. Reddish-green flowers open in March to April. Fruit: The ovate, dark brown, cone-like fruit is hard with winged scales. Seeds are produced in small cones and do not have wings. Fruit usually matures during fall and is quite persistent. Twig: The twigs are reddish-brown and have a 3-angled-pith; young twigs are covered with hairs. Bark: The bark is brownish gray, smooth, and has a bitter and astringent taste.

Distribution

''Alnus serrulata'' is mainly located in eastern North America. It ranges from

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

to Northern

, west to southeastern

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

, and

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

. It also grows along the

Mississippi river The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

. It is not present in northern

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

and

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

. Smooth Alder is classified as an facultative wetland species in the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

and Gulf Coastal Plains and an obligate wetland species in the North and Midwest.

Taxonomy

The scientific name of Smooth Alder is ''Alnus serrulata'' (Aiton) Willd., synonymous with ''Alnus noveboracensis'' Britton, ''Alnus rubra'' Desfontaines ex Spach, ''Alnus rugosa'' (Du Roi) Sprengel, ''Alnus rugosa'' (Du Roi) Sprengel var. ''serrulata'' (W. Aiton) H. Winkler, ''Alnus serrulata'' (W. Aiton) Willdenow var. ''subelliptica'' Fernald, and ''Betula serrulata'' W. Aiton. It has English common names including common alder, tag alder, hazel alder, and smooth alder.

Cultivation

''Alnus serrulata'' can be found in a habitats such as streambanks, riversides, and swamps. Water use is high and it requires sun or part-sun. It also requires moist soil that has a pH of 6.8-7.2. ''Alnus serrulata'' needs 5–10-foot spacing in wildlife habitat.

Uses

Because the plant resides in riversides or stream streambanks, it usually functions as a stabilizer and restorer for those habitats. It is also used to treat astringent,

diuretic A diuretic () is any substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine. This includes forced diuresis. A diuretic tablet is sometimes colloquially called a water tablet. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics in ...

, emetic, ophthalmic, and purgative symptoms. A tea made from the bark is said to work as a treatment for diarrhea, coughs, toothaches, sore mouth, and the pain of birth.

References

1. Seiler, John R., Jensen, Edward C., and Peterson, John A.. "Alnus Serrulata Fact Sheet." VT Forest Biology and Dendrology. Virginia Tech. Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, 2010. Web. 9 May 2011. . 2. Mohlenbrock, Robert H. "Plant Fact Sheet." USDA. USDA NRCS PLANTS, 30 Jan. 2002. Web. 25 Jan. 2011. . 3. Tenaglia, Dan. "Alnus Serrulata Page." Missouri Flora Web Page. Missouriplants, 8 Feb. 2007. Web. 10 May 2011. . 4. Seton, Ernest Thompson. "Betulaceae." The Forester's Manual; Or, The Forest Trees of Eastern North America ... 10th ed. Vol. 9. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Page &, 1912. 57. Print. 5. Fergus, Charles, and Amelia Hansen. Trees of New England: a Natural History. Guilford, CT: FalconGuide, 2005. 4. Print. 6. Seton, Ernest Thompson. The Book of Woodcraft. Garden City, NY: Garden City Pub., 1921. 383. Print. 7. Tatnall, Robert Richardson. Flora of Delaware and the Eastern Shore; an Annotated List of the Ferns and Flowering Plants of the Peninsula of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. ilmington Society of Natural History of Delaware, 1946. 99. Print. {{Taxonbar, from=Q3926580

serratula ''Serratula'' is a genus of plants in the tribe Cardueae within the family Asteraceae native to Eurasia. Plumeless saw-wort is a common name for plants in this genus. ''Serratula'' as traditionally defined contains at least two groups: one of whi ...

Trees of Eastern Canada Trees of the Eastern United States Flora of the Northeastern United States Flora of the Southeastern United States Flora of the North-Central United States Flora of Texas Flora of the Appalachian Mountains Plants described in 1789