Alnus serrulata

(Aiton) Willd.

Hazel alder, Smooth alder

Betulaceae Edible: tea, Possibly medicine 13,171 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Alnus serrulata, the hazel alder or smooth alder, is a thicket-forming shrub in the family Betulaceae. It is native to eastern North America and can be found from western Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick south to Florida and Texas.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2.5-4 m tall. The trunk is 15 cm across. The edges of the leaves have fine teeth.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

No edible uses are known for this plant.

Medicinal Uses

A tea brewed from the bark is analgesic, astringent, diuretic, emetic, and purgative, and is considered a blood purifier. It is used to treat diarrhoea, the pain of childbirth, coughs, toothache, and sore mouths. Externally, the bark tea serves as an eye wash and a topical wash for hives, poison ivy rash, piles, swellings, and sprains. A decoction made from the cones is also astringent.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It often grows near streams. It suits hardiness zones 5-8. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Australia, North America, Tasmania, USA,

Propagation

Seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe, covered only very lightly or not at all — spring-sown seed germinates equally well provided it is not covered. Germination occurs as temperatures rise in spring. Seedlings should be pricked out into individual pots once large enough to handle; if growth is sufficient they can go into their permanent positions in summer, otherwise overwinter them in pots outdoors and plant out the following spring. With larger quantities of seed, sow thinly in an outdoor seed bed in spring and plant out in autumn/winter, or grow on for a further season before transplanting. Cuttings of mature wood can be taken as soon as leaves fall in autumn and rooted outdoors in sandy soil.

Other Uses

The trees have extensive root systems and are sometimes planted along stream banks to prevent erosion. The wood is soft and brittle, weighing 29lb per cubic foot, and has little commercial value. This species is also noted for its role in food forests and as a nitrogen fixer.

Notes

The bark is used as a tea for medicine.

Synonyms

Alnus americana K.KochAlnus autumnalis Hartig ex GarckeAlnus glutinosa var. autumnalis KuntzeAlnus glutinosa var. oblongata (Aiton) PersAlnus glutinosa var. serrulata (Aiton) RegelAlnus incana var. serrulata (Aiton) B.BoivinAlnus latifolia Desf.Alnus macrophylla Desf. ex Steud.Alnus noveboracensis BrittonAlnus oblongata (Aiton) Willd.Alnus rubra Desf. ex Steud. [Invalid]Alnus rugosa var. obtusifolia (Regel) H.J.P.Winkl.Alnus rugosa var. serrulata (Aiton) H.J.P.Winkl.Alnus serrulata f. emarginata FernaldAlnus serrulata var. macrophylla SpachAlnus serrulata f. mollescens FernaldAlnus serrulata f. nanella FernaldAlnus serrulata f. noveboracensis (Britton) FernaldAlnus serrulata var. obtusifolia (Regel) RegelAlnus serrulata var. serrulataAlnus serrulata f. serrulataAlnus serrulata var. subelliptica FernaldBetula alnus var. serrulata (Aiton) Michx.Betula oblongata AitonBetula serrulata Aiton