Alnus alnobetula subsp. fruticosa
Siberian alder
Betulaceae (Birch family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Siberian alder
Betulaceae (Birch family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Photograph
Map
Distribution of Alnus alnobetula subsp. fruticosa
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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.
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.Status Information
| Scientific Name | Origin Status | Provincial Status | BC List (Red Blue List) | COSEWIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alnus alnobetula ssp. crispa | Native | S4 (2000) | Yellow | Not Listed |
| Alnus alnobetula ssp. fruticosa | Native | S5? (2019) | Yellow | Not Listed |
| Alnus alnobetula ssp. sinuata | Native | S5 (2000) | Yellow | Not Listed |
BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer.