''Alnus rubra'', the red alder, is a deciduous broadleaf tree native to western North America.
Similar species: Beeches, Oaks, Walnuts
By gary fast
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Uploaded Mar 4, 2020. Captured Mar 3, 2020 15:59 in Jocelyn Rd, Whaletown, BC V0P 1Z0, Canada.
comments (13)
Same thing? I am not too familiar with other Alnus species.
Posted 2 years ago
Gorgeous! This is the male catkin of a red alder tree (Alnus rubra). Red alder is a deciduous tree that is native to western North America. It’s one of the largest species of alder in the world and can reach heights of 30 meters (98 ft). It's monoecious, meaning that there are separate male and female flowers on the same individual tree. Male flowers are long, drooping, red catkins, while the female flowers take the shape of short, woody cones.
Red alder is a pioneer species that quickly establishes in openings created by disturbances, such as landslides, logging, or fire. It actually improves the soil because it's a nitrogen-fixer and puts nitrogen back in the soil, unlike most plants. Its roots have nodules that house a nitrogen-fixing bacterium, Frankia alni. The bacterium absorbs nitrogen from the air and makes it available to the tree. In turn, the tree provides the bacterium with sugar. As a result of this symbiotic relationship, the alder improves the fertility of the soil in which it grows thus providing favorable conditions for the successional species that grow after the alder. {Spotted in British Columbia, Canada by JungleDragon user, Gary Fast} #JungleDragon #Redalder #Alnusrubra
https://www.facebook.com/jungledragonwildlife/ Posted 2 years ago