Alnus alnobetula subsp. sinuata
Sitka alder
Betulaceae (Birch family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Adolf Ceska     (Photo ID #13419)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Alnus alnobetula subsp. sinuata
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Deciduous shrub or tree, 1-5 m tall; pointed axillary buds without stalks; bark scaly, sometimes lichen-covered, yellowish-brown or grey.
Leaves:
Alternate, deciduous, smooth, finely toothed 1-2 times, oval with pointed tips, 4-10 cm long, brownish in the fall.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of male and female catkins which open at the same time as the leaves on current year's growth; male catkins unstalked.
Fruits:
Small nutlets, with broad wings; female cones 1.5-2 cm long, egg-shaped.
Notes:
Three subspecies occur in BC.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Alnus alnobetula ssp. sinuata

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1172 0 2500
Slope Gradient (%)
22 0 205

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

27 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
4 0 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
3292
Modal BEC Zone Class
ESSF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

AT(2), BG(4), BWBS(238), CMA(1), CWH(92), ESSF(802), ICH(648), IDF(186), MH(26), MS(580), PP(7), SBPS(16), SBS(575), SWB(2)

Habitat and Range

Moist slopes, streambanks, avalanche tracks, bogs and fens in all zones; ssp. crispa frequent in N BC, ssp. sinuata common throughout S BC, becoming less frequent and transitional to ssp. crispa in N BC; circumboreal, E to PQ and S to NC, MN, CO and CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Alnus crispa subsp. laciniata Hultén
Alnus crispa subsp. sinuata (Regel) Hultén
Alnus crispa var. sinuata
Alnus sinuata (Regel) Rydb.
Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC.
Alnus viridis var. sinuata Regel
Duschekia sinuata (Regel) Pouzar