Speckled Alder
(Alnus incana)

Other common names: Gray Alder, Hoary Alder, Tag Alder

French names: Aulne rugueux

Family: Birch Family (Betulaceae)

Group: Alders

Distinctive features: Shrub;Prominent lenticels (speckles) scattered all over the bark.

Similar species:
  •   European Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) - leaves are roundish and indented at the tips.

  •   Green Alder (Alnus viridis spp. crispa) - leaves are not double-toothed.

  •   Alder-leaved Buckthorn (Rhamnus alnifolia) - not an Alder.


Flowers: Spring

Leaves: Alternate;  Simple;  Toothed;  Roundish, alternate, toothed

Height: Up to 6 m (20 ft)

Trunk: Prominent lenticels (speckles) scattered all over the bark.

Habitat: Wet areas, along stream banks.

Books: Trees in Canada: 300   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Common

Notes: Easily confused with European Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa).

Origin and Meaning of Names:
 Scientific Name: incana: grey


See Also:
  •   Alder: The Nitrogen Fix, from The Monday Garden, by Sue Sweeney


Photographs: 123 photographs available, of which 8 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

  

Typical leaf. Note two important characteristics:

1. The tip is pointed, not blunt (European Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) leaves are blunt-tipped, or even indented at the tip).

2. The edges are double-toothed.

Underside of a leaf.

For comparison, here are the leaves of the three Alders:
-Green Alder (Alnus viridis spp. crispa) (L)
-Speckled Alder (Alnus incana) (M)
-European Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) (R).

Catkins.

Seed catkins. Note the short stalks. European Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa) catkins are on long stalks.

Speckled Alder hanging out over a frozen strem in a swamp.

Bud.

Another bud.
  

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