speckled alder fruit

Speckled Alder is a shrub in the Birch family that is found growing in wetlands. It is named after the “speckles” on its bark — horizontal lines or lenticels (spongy openings for the transfer of gases). In winter, Speckled Alder branches are distinctive because they carry two kinds of buds as well as last year's fruit.

Are alder berries edible?

Edible Uses

The Red Alder is a native food with edible catkins (male flowers) that can be eaten raw or cooked. They are rich in protein but have a bitter flavor.

Is alder wood poisonous?

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, alder in the Alnus genus has been reported to cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

What are alder trees good for?

The wood of certain alder species is often used to smoke various food items such as coffee, salmon, and other seafood. Most of the pilings that form the foundation of Venice were made from alder trees. Alder bark contains the anti-inflammatory salicin, which is metabolized into salicylic acid in the body.

What is a tag alder?

Tag alder is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with brownish gray bark. The leaves alternate along the twigs and are simple, oval, and doubly serrated (toothed). The leaves are 2 to 4 in long, dull dark green above, paler and may be velvety below, with prominent, parallel veins.

Why is buckthorn so bad?

Buckthorn is detrimental to the health and future of our woodlands, prairies, wetlands and parks because is takes over large areas destroying wildlife habitat and food sources and out- competes other important native plants that we need for a stabile, healthy ecosystem.

Can you eat alder buckthorn berries?

Why Remove Buckthorn? Children – Buckthorn berries, bark and roots are toxic. The berries cause severe cramping and diarrhea in humans. Keep small children out of areas where buckthorn berries fall, as the blue/black berries may be mistaken for blueberries and accidentally eaten.

Is Alder an expensive wood?

Cost. One of the biggest benefits of alder wood is the cost. It's not quite as cheap as it used to be when it was referred to as "poor man's cherry," but there's still a considerable price difference between it and more expensive hardwoods, such as mahogany. Alder is about in the middle of the road of hardwood prices.

Is Alder rot resistant?

Rot Resistance: Red alder is rated non-durable to perishable regarding decay resistance, and freshly cut logs should be quickly converted into lumber and dried to prevent staining or decay in the wood. ... The wood is rather soft, however, and care must be taken to avoid denting it in some applications.

Is Alder considered a hardwood?

Alder is a relatively soft hardwood of medium density that has low bending strength, shock resistance, and stiffness. Available in dimension stock and lumber. Furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors, shutters, moulding, panel stock, turnings, carvings, and kitchen utensils.

What animals eat Alder?

Wildlife: Deer and elk eat the leaves, twigs, and buds. Red alder seeds attract many bird and small mammal species including redpolls, siskins, goldfinches, and mice.

Are alder trees good for wildlife?

Alder is a good species for reforestation, and provide excellent shelter for wildlife in wet areas.

Are birch and alder the same?

Alders and birches are both in the birch family (Betulaceae). You might say they're cousins -- different genera, with alders in the genus Alnus and birches in Betula.

How do I identify an alder tree?

The easiest way of recognizing an alder tree is by its distinctive little fruiting body, called a strobile. They appear in fall and look like 1 inch (2.5 cm.) long cones. Strobiles remain on the tree until the following spring, and the small, nutlike seeds they contain supply winter food for birds and small mammals.

What is hazel brush?

Hazel brush can grow to 15 feet tall, but usually is 4-6 feet in height. The 2-5 inch LEAVES are double-toothed with somewhat heart-shaped leaf bases. The STEMS and TWIGS are usually a light brown. TWIGS and leaf stems of American hazel have stiff, short, fine hairs.

Is buckthorn good for anything?

Why buckthorn matters

But buckthorn berries are not a good food source. They're low in protein and high in carbohydrates and produce a severe laxative effect in some animals. ... Buckthorn is known for its bright glossy leaves, which stay green late into fall long after most native plants have gone grey.

Should I remove buckthorn?

Remove any fruit-bearing buckthorn trees. Monitor areas that are relatively buckthorn-free and control buckthorn plants right away if detected. Long-term recommendations include: Replant desirable tree, shrub, and herbaceous species if species do not return from the seed bank.

How do you kill buckthorn without chemicals?

Is There a Way to Kill Buckthorn Without Chemicals? Yes. One intriguing non-chemical method is to cut the buckthorn down to a stump six inches or shorter and place a tin can or black plastic bag over it. It can take a year or two for the stump to die, but no chemicals are used in the process.

Are alder buckthorn berries poisonous?

Its berries are eaten by birds (especially robins and thrushes) and it is known to attract wildlife. ... Birds nest in its branches. The alder buckthorn increases wildlife where it is present. This is a poisonous plant to humans but its bark has been used medicinally as a purgative laxative when prepared properly.

Are alder buckthorn berries poisonous to dogs?

POISONOUS BERRIES – Alder buckthorn. The fruits of the alder buckthorn are very TOXIC, they should on no account be eaten, and the bark of the tree is likewise toxic.

Can you eat buckthorn?

Sea buckthorn fruit or fruit juice can be found in certain jellies, juices, purees, sauces, drinks, and liquors. People do not usually eat the berries raw because they are acidic. The amount of sea buckthorn used in food is typically much less than that used for medicinal purposes.