Alder, << AWL duhr, >> is the name of a group of shrubs and trees that grow in moist ground. Alders are found in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They also grow at high elevations in parts of Central and South America, Asia, and North Africa.
Alders have oval leaves with toothed edges and produce separate male and female flowers. The female flowers grow in catkins (clusters of stalkless flowers) that harden into scaly, woody conelike structures. The structures have nuts and are later shed by the plant.
Several species of alders grow in North America. Most are large shrubs that form dense thickets. The speckled alder grows throughout Canada, south to Virginia, and west to North Dakota. The red alder is the only alder large enough for commercial timber production. It is the most important hardwood tree in the Pacific Northwest, where it grows up to 100 feet (30 meters) high. The wood of the red alder is soft and light. It is whitish when first cut and light reddish-brown when dry. It is used mostly for inexpensive furniture.
