Arizona Alder
Alnus oblongifolia
Leaves of Arizona Alder growing along Sycamore Creek in the Pine Mountain Wilderness, Yavapai Co., Arizona. June 2009.
Photographed along Pinto Creek in Gila Co., Arizona, about 8 km from its confluence with the Salt River/Lake Roosevelt.
LEAVES: Deciduous, toothed, simple leaves are alternate on the stem.
Veining is prominent.
RANGE: In Arizona's sycamore woodlands this tree grows along the
better-watered canyons mostly at the higher elevations.
TREE: A medium-sized tree with smooth gray bark on younger trees and
becoming darker and fissured on older trees. Boles generally straight. The
roots host the nitrogen-fixing actinomycete, Frankia.
FLOWERS: The small flowers are set in pendulat spikes known as catkins.
Female catkins are much shorter and more compact than the male. Male flowers
open in spring and are shed soon after releasing pollen, but the female catkins
remain with developing seeds.
FRUIT: Overlapping papery scales of the catkins give the appearance of a
small cone. Shown at right are immature female catkins containing developing
seeds.
UNARMED
Betulaceae -- Birch Family
More Information:
- USDA Plant Profile
- Virginia Tech Dept. of Forestry
- ITIS Taxanomic Report
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search