Adopt or gift a Alder tree

Scientific name: Alnus glutinosa (black alder); Alnus incana (white alder) Common name: Black alder; Common alder

Tree in the Betullaceae family. Often curved trunk, grows in low latitudes throughout most of Europe, especially in very wet areas, floodplains, swampy forests and along rivers. Its young, glabrous leaves and branches are slightly sticky to the touch; in fact, glutinosus means sticky in Latin. Its light brown bark is quite rough. The dark green leaves are rounded in shape and reach medium size. Its broad foliage can take on a bushy form since, with ad hoc pruning, several trunks can be developed directly from the base. The catkins (inflorescences) appear before the foliage, in clusters.

Black alder is renowned for its anti-inflammatory, astringent and diuretic properties. It also performs a stimulating action on encephalic and myocardial circulation; in fact, it is indicated for enhancing memory and focus.

On flooded soils, it manages to thrive because of an air exchange system that allows the roots not to rot. If the bark or leaves are submerged in ferruginous water, they take on a black coloring that in the past was used by saddlers and shoemakers to dye leather. Currently, typical Finnish sauna buckets are made from its wood. in winter, birds such as Eurasian siskin peck at the seeds inside the 1.5-1.8 cm long strobiles.