Unidentified Tree

[WhiskyBottle]

Can anyone identify this tree. Taken September in Gloucestershire. Not in an area I would expect to be planted. Closest I can get is an Alder but the glossy leaves don't look right.


Thanks

Martin

[sunnydale]

Looks like a Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa) to me too Martin. In my reference book, the leaves in the pic do look a bit glossy....but I'm no expert

[davidbr]

It's actually Italian Alder, Alnus incana - originally introduced, but they spread very easily into the wild by seed. There are lots self-seeded around Bristol's Waterfront area, not too far from the site of the SS Great Britain

[Hedge Witch]

Interesting post, I never knew of their existence. I'll keep an eye out for this one.

[The Woodman]

Planted at one time by North West Water Authority in riverside landscaping schemes in the north west but hasn't self seeded successfully up here (south Cumbria) from what I can see.
Wouldn't be allowed these days.

[poschiavanus]

Agree Italian Alder, but the latin name is Alnus cordata. A. incana is Grey Alder, which is also very widely planted, and a vigorous suckerer.

Italian Alder certainly self-seeds in Notts. Apparently they were quite popular in plantings in the 1930's. The ones I'm most familiar with were planted at some stage to screen a Raleigh factory which has long since gone. They are an attractive tree, staying in leaf late (still some green leaves today), but don't seem to support much in the way of insect life.

Another non-native alder which I think is more-or-less restricted to parks and gardens is Green Alder, an alpine shrub.

posch

[aeshna5]

Italian Alder is not uncommon as a street tree in London, though I don't recall seeing seedlings naturalised. The cones are as popular with finches as our native species.

[WhiskyBottle]

Thanks folks,

It is does get two lines in my tree book, but no pictures and no mention of the glossy leaves.

Martin

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by WhiskyBottle

Thanks folks,

It is does get two lines in my tree book, but no pictures and no mention of the glossy leaves.

Martin

The glossy leaves are quite characteristic for this species (and probably hybrids should the exist)

[davidbr]

Originally Posted by poschiavanus

Agree Italian Alder, but the latin name is Alnus cordata. A. incana is Grey Alder, which is also very widely planted, and a vigorous suckerer

Of course - my mistake, sorry

Both Grey & Italian Alders seem to self-seed very well around the Bristol area; A. incana is now well-naturalised in the Avon Gorge along the Portway, and as I said there are plenty of young specimens of A. cordata in the city centre & docks area known as the Waterfront.

I haven't seen so many elsewhere, but I'd imagine the situation is much the same wherever they're popular as street trees.