Alnus viridis subsp. sinuata

(Regel) A. Löve & D. Löve

Univ. Colorado Stud., Ser. Biol. 17: 20. 1965.

Common names: Sitka alder mountain alder
Endemic
Basionym: Alnus viridis var. (d) Regel Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 38(3): 422. 1865
Synonyms: Alnus crispa subsp. sinuata (Regel) Hultén Alnus sinuata (Regel) Sargent Alnus sitchensis
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.
Revision as of 07:38, 30 July 2020 by imported>Volume Importer
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Shrubs, spreading, to 5 (–10) m. Bark light gray to reddish-brown; lenticels inconspicuous. Leaf-blade light or yellowish green, narrowly to broadly ovate, 4–10 × 3–8 cm, thin, papery, base rounded to cordate, margins flat, sharply and coarsely doubly serrate, apex acuminate; surfaces abaxially glabrous to sparsely pubescent, lightly to moderately resin-coated. Inflorescences: staminate catkins 2.5–13 cm. Infructescences 1.5–2.5 × 0.8–1.3 cm; peduncles 1–3 cm. 2n = 28.


Phenology: Flowering spring.
Habitat: Along gravelly or rocky stream banks, lakeshores, and coasts, on moist rocky slopes, outcrops, in open coniferous woodlands
Elevation: 0–2500 m

Distribution

V3 671-distribution-map.gif

Alta., B.C., N.W.T., Yukon, Alaska, Calif., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash., Wyo.

Discussion

Alnus viridis subsp. sinuata is one of the first successional taxa to appear in the northwestern mountains following disruption of the mature vegetation. It often forms dense thickets on avalanche and talus slopes. Sitka alder differs from the two previous subspecies in its paper-thin, light or yellowish green, doubly serrate leaves.

The Bella Coola used Alnus viridis subsp. sinuata medicinally although D. E. Moerman (1986) did not specify the nature of the remedies.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"thin" is not a number.

acuminate +
John J. Furlow +
(Regel) A. Löve & D. Löve +
tanniferous +  and furrowed +
light gray +  and reddish-brown +
exfoliating +
rounded +  and cordate +
Alnus viridis var. (d) +
2 +  and 3 +
in relatively small racemose clusters +  and solitary +
solitary +, cluster +  and racemose +
erect +  and nearly pendulous +
proximal +  and lateral +
ovoid +  and ellipsoid +
expanding +
2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br /> (13 cm130 mm <br />0.13 m <br />) +
Sitka alder +  and mountain alder +
multibracteate +
Alta. +, B.C. +, N.W.T. +, Yukon +, Alaska +, Calif. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Oreg. +, Wash. +  and Wyo. +
0–2500 m +
pistillate +  and staminate +
reduced +  and small +
small +  and large +
Along gravelly or rocky stream banks, lakeshores, and coasts, on moist rocky slopes, outcrops, in open coniferous woodlands +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
ovoid +  and ellipsoid or nearly cylindric +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (1.3 cm13 mm <br />0.013 m <br />) +
membranaceous +  and leathery +
yellowish green +  and light +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
thin;3cm;8cm +
3-ranked +  and nearly 2-ranked +
inconspicuous +
unenlarged +  and small +
serrulate to coarsely +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br />) +
not obvious +  and defined +
membranaceous +
Flowering spring. +
2(-3)-carpellate +
Univ. Colorado Stud., Ser. Biol. +
1-seeded +  and 2-winged +
elliptic;obovate +
deciduous +  and persistent +
4 +  and 6 +
unequal +
expanding +
thicker +  and thin +
nearly +  and distinct +
resin-coated +
abaxially glabrous;sparsely pubescent +
Alnus crispa subsp. sinuata +, Alnus sinuata +  and Alnus sitchensis +
Alnus viridis subsp. sinuata +
Alnus viridis +
subspecies +
excurrent +  and deliquescent +
differentiated +  and uniform +
500 cm5,000 mm <br />5 m <br /> (1,000 cm10,000 mm <br />10 m <br />) +
membranaceous +
tanniferous +
light +  and white +