Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.
Common alder (Alnus glutinosa) is a long-lived, deciduous tree that is native to Europe, Asia and North Africa. It was introduced to New Zealand for shelter, erosion control and as an ornamental tree and was first recorded in the wild (naturalised) in 1914. The tree grows up to about 25 metres tall and has dark, fissured bark and rounded leaves with a distinctly notched tip. It flowers from August to October, producing separate male and female catkins, which develop into small woody cones containing winged seeds. It tolerates flooding, damp conditions, frost and a wide range of soil types. It reproduces by seed. Seeds are dispersed by wind and water. Nitrogen-fixing root nodules allow the tree to grow on nutrient-poor soils.
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