172 



Forests and Trees 



II. THE ALDERS 



The alders resemble the birches sufficiently to have been 

 formerly included in the same genus. The bark does not peel 

 off in layers like that of most of the birches, and the oil in the 

 bark and wood is absent in the alders. The fruiting catkins 

 are almost globular and remain on the stem sometimes for a 

 year after the seed has been discharged. The wood is very soft 

 and weak, the juice watery and the bark astringent. 



i. RED ALDER. Alnus oregona. Nuttall. 



This is a tall tree with a weak, often leaning trunk, but fre- 

 quently of considerable size. It reaches a height of about 

 seventy-five feet and a diameter of two 

 feet. 



The bark is almost smooth and light 

 gray or whitish in places. The leaves are 

 large, often six inches or more in length, 

 rather sharp-pointed, coarsely toothed and 

 very prominently veined. 



The wood is light reddish-brown and 

 takes a very good polish, but is soft and 

 weak. It is used, however, for furniture 

 and even for canoes by the Indians. The 

 ease with which it can be worked causes it 

 to be used for many purposes where a 



FIG. 34. Red Alder. 



stronger and more durable wood might be thought preferable. 



It occurs along the Pacific coast throughout the whole length 

 of British Columbia, often forming the first fringe at the water's 

 edge. 



