E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of BC

Alnus alnobetula subsp. fruticosa
Siberian alder
Betulaceae (Birch family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

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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.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Status Information

Scientific Name	Origin Status	Provincial Status	BC List (Red Blue List)	COSEWIC
Alnus alnobetula ssp. crispa	Native	S4	Yellow	Not Listed
Alnus alnobetula ssp. fruticosa	Native	S5?	Yellow	Not Listed
Alnus alnobetula ssp. sinuata	Native	S5	Yellow	Not Listed

BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer.