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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Speckled Alder

 
We finally had a sunny day today. This clump of trees looked so red, I had to stop and see what they were. It's a speckled alder, Alnus rugosa. I'm familiar with it, but don't recall the catkins looking so red.

Speckled Alder

It grows in clumps, usually in the sun. It doesn't like shade.

Speckled Alder

It gets the name "speckled" from the light-colored lenticels on the bark.

Speckled Alder

It must just be the timing. The male catkins (the long skinny ones) are very red! The small "pine cone" shaped structures higher on the twig are the female flowers.

Speckled Alder

They like to grow in damp areas, but will also grow where it is drier.

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...
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vanilla said...

Very interesting and informative. Vocabulary builder, too. "lenticel" "catkin"
Thanks, Sharkey.

Anonymous said...
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rainfield61 said...

They survive under severe conditions.

Ann said...

and here I though catkins were the brothers, sisters, cousins etc of cats....lol Oh I crack me up.

RNSANE said...

Looks like the snow will soon be a thing of the past.