The alder is a genus of a flowering plant that belongs to the birch family. The genus contains 30 species, more or less, of the monoecious shrubs and trees, few reaching huge size, dispersed all the way through the North Temperate Zone and New World, as well as in the Andes to Argentina.
The leaves of the alder are deciduous, alternating, serrated, and simple. Its flowers are aments, and are mostly wind-pollinated, although the bees visit them occasionally. The two largest species of alder are Alnus rubra or Red Alder, commonly found on North America’s west coast, and Alnus glutinosa or Black Alder that is found chiefly in European countries and in some places in southwest Asia. Both species reach the height of more than 30 metres. On the other hand, the prevalent Alnus viridis or Green Alder is seldom over a 5-metre shrub.
Alders are fast-growing and sturdy, even in damaged and acidic places such as mining sites and burned areas. Alder is used by numerous guitar makers as the material for the body of electric guitars. It is also a favoured wood in making charcoal and is conventionally utilised for smoking meat and fish, though this tradition has frequently been substituted by some other woods like hickory and oak. Alder lumber is also a significant strong-growing renewable resource that is employed in a wide variety of applications such as the making of cabinets, furniture, special products, and panel systems. Its structure is fine-grained and it is easy to varnish and finish.
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