Alnus glutinosa
Ecology
A deciduous tree of damp or wet, basic to moderately acidic soils, found beside rivers, streams, canals, lakes and ditches, and in flood plains, fens and bogs, carr and wooded dune-slacks. It can rapidly seed into open sites, producing even-aged stands of mature trees, but seedlings are very shade- and drought-sensitive, so regeneration in woodland is often poor. It is also widely planted. 0-470 m (Garrigill, Cumberland).
Status
Trends
The overall distribution of this species is stable. However, a recently evolved Phytophthora fungus has killed 10% of trees in S. England and Wales, and may have a wider impact in the future.
World Distribution
Eurosiberian Temperate element.
Broad Habitats
Light (Ellenberg): 5
Moisture (Ellenberg): 8
Reaction (Ellenberg): 6
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 6
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 3.5
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 14.5
Annual Precipitation (mm): 1100
Height (cm): 2000
Perennation - primary
Life Form - primary
Woodiness
Clonality - primary
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 2478
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 901
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 10
Atlas Change Index: -0.32
Weighted Changed Factor: 16
Weighted Change Factor Confidence (90%)
JNCC Designations
Atlas text references
Atlas (184d)
.
1999. Alder death cause revealed. British Wildlife. 10:365.
.
1988. Comparative Plant Ecology.
.
1986. Atlas of north European vascular plants north of the Tropic of Cancer. 3 vols.
Jalas & Suominen (1976)
McVean (1953
1955a
1955b)
.
1965. Vergleichende Chorologie der zentraleuropäischen Flora. Volume 1. 2 vols.