Native trees / Medium trees / Alder
| Family name | Birch |
|---|---|
| Latin family name | Betulaceae |
| Type of tree | Deciduous, broadleaf and native |
| Average height | 18-25m |
| Leaf size | not available |
| Leaf colour | Dark green |
| Leaf bursts | not available |
| Flower size | not available |
| Flower colour | not available |
| Flower bursts | not available |
| Fruit size | not available |
| Fruit colour | Brown |
| Fruit bursts | not available |
| Soil type/enviromental conditions | Wet areas such as river sides, wet woods, marshes and bogs. Often planted on land reclamation sites. |
| Tree lore and folklore | Alder wood is a lure for woodworm, (as the beetles lay their eggs in alder in preference to other wood), so branches were cut and put in cupboards to prevent woodworm. There are few references to alder being used in medicine, for instance, in the 19th Century it was used as a substitute for quinine in easing fevers. In Norfolk, the bark was used for treating burns, piles and ‘heart trouble’. Alder is common in Ireland and tradition has it that it was unlucky to pass an alder on a journey, possibly due to the tree growing in marshy terrain! |
