Alder gray: description, application in medicine

Alder gray is a real harbinger of spring. It starts to bloom when the snow is still around. Leaflets appear much later. The tree belongs to the Berezov family.

Alder gray: description

Depending on the habitat, it can look like a deciduous tree up to 25 meters high or as a large shrub with a trunk up to 50 cm. Alder is a fast-growing species, which is especially noticeable in the first 15 years of life. Later the process slows down. It is frost-resistant and shade-tolerant, but at the same time it is light-loving enough.

The average age is 40-60 years, but plants are known to have reached 100 years of age.

Alder gray (or white, as it is also called) has a superficial root system. It is deepened only by 20 cm. On the roots there are nodule growths and stump shoots.

Alder has a slender trunk with a smooth light gray bark. In young shoots, it initially with a greenish tinge, later becomes brown. Particularly in the eye rushes a weak non-adhesive fluff that disappears after a while.

The leaves are oval, broad and slightly pointed from above. Grow up to 10 cm, with the upper side bright green, the lower - lighter. The leaves on the branch are arranged in three rows.

Up to 30 species of this plant are known, but in Russia there are only two: alder gray, alder black. The second is also called sticky.

Blooming and reproduction

The first earrings appear in March or April. Male and female in appearance differ from each other. The first inflorescences are long and usually contain 3-5 pieces together. Earrings "female" oval, on short legs, up to 1.5 cm long. They are collected in 8-9 pieces. Pollination occurs by wind.

By the autumn, female inflorescences become harder and look like little bumps.

At the same time, seeds are grown every year, which retain their germination for 2 years. They are similar to nuts 1.5 cm long with membranous wings.

Alder gray reproduces seeds, scions of roots and cuttings. Very quickly can form wild thickets.

Spread

The tree grows on the territory of Russia, mainly in its northern part, and is also widespread in Siberia, right up to Kamchatka. It occurs in North America, Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Serbia, Italy, France, and also practically throughout Europe.

Alder gray prefers to grow in the forest zone, but it occurs both in the forest-steppe and in the forest-tundra zone. In North America, a tree in places is a threat to local vegetation.

Due to the good germination, the seed quickly forms thickets. In contrast to black alder, it is easy to adapt to wetlands. Due to this property the plant is often used to strengthen river banks , slopes of ravines, and also when creating forest ameliorative landscapes.

It grows in damp lime soil, which itself enriches with nitrogen. Drought is bad. Its presence on the plain indicates the presence of groundwater.

Alder gray: useful properties and application

The tree has soft, but dense wood with a reddish tinge. Alder gray is used in the production of turning and carpentry. It is resistant to decay. It is popular in furniture manufacture, also matches, paper are made from it.

In the presence of constant humidity it acquires an increased strength, therefore it is used in the construction of underwater structures, barrels, log houses of wells, fastening poles. Wood chips serve as good packaging for fruit.

Firewood from gray alder is not very popular, they burn well, but they do not keep the heat. Previously, they were used to burn soot from the furnace.

The bark of the tree is a good dye, with its help you can give red, black and yellow shades to fabrics, leather and wool.

Gardeners with the help of alder branches are fighting with such pests as mice and bears. It is enough simply to arrange them on beds and near fruit trees.

Alder gray is very popular among beekeepers, pollen is formed on shoots and young leaves before flowering.

Effective in the form of a decorative hedge, but in this case requires a constant haircut.

Application in medicine

For medicinal purposes, bark, leaves of the tree and cones are used. Preparations, which include alder gray, have hemostatic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, astringent action. They are popular in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Also, these parts of alder are used for colds and rheumatism, are part of medicines and are suitable for preparing decoctions.

Fresh leaves of the tree have a good sweatshop effect, they contain phenolcarbonic acids, provitamin A, ascorbic acid, vitamin C.

The cones of alder gray include alkaloids, aliphatic alcohols, fatty oil, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins. The last two substances are found in the bark of the plant.