New York Metropolitan Flora

Genus: Alnus

Alnus - Alder

By Science Staff

Not peer reviewed

Last Modified 01/29/2013

Back to Betulaceae

Nomenclature

Alnus Mill., Gard. Dict. Abr. ed. 4., v.1 [“AL”]. 1754. LECTOTYPE: Alnus vulgaris Hill (=Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) designated by Britton & Brown (1913).

Key to the species of Alnus

1. Single-trunked tree...Alnus glutinosa
1. Multi-stemmed shrub...2

2. Leaves doubly serrate, undersides not resin-coated; bark dark grayish to reddish-brown, with prominent whitish lenticels...Alnus incana
2. Leaves simply serrate or serrulate, undersides resin-coated; bark light gray, without prominent lenticels...3

3. Leaves serrate, mostly ovate, apices acute...Alnus viridis
3. Leaves serrulate, mostly obovate, apices rounded...Alnus serrulata

List of Alnus Species

Alnus glutinosa Alnus incana ssp. rugosa Alnus serrulata

References to Alnus

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