Grey Alder
Alnus incana
Tree (shrub) 6-20 m tall with direct, thin stem, and dense crown. The bark is gray-brown, even in old age smooth. Leaf blade oval, inviscid, with 8-12 lateral veins. Edge of leaf double serrate or gently lobate, leaf top sharp. The other side of the leaf with gray hair, later (except veins) glabrescent. Woody female cones sessile (or with very short pedunculates), hard, oval. The fruit are small, flat achenes with a narrow, opaq edge. Achenes round to pentagonal, reddish brown.
Shoots: Shoots hairy, inviscid.
Natural range: Europe (except SW part), the west part of Asia; in our area domestic.
Buds
Buds pedunculated, with 2 cover scales, obtuse sharp, hairy, inviscid.
Leaves
Leaves are simple The lamina is ovate, non-sticky with 8-12 pairs of lateral axils. The margin is twice serrated to shallowly lobate, the tip is pointed. The underside is grey pilose to tomentose; later (except veins) loosing hairs. The basis is truncated to slightly cordate, or cuneate. The petiole is 1.5 – 2.5 cm long.
Fruits
Woody female cones sessile (or with very short pedunculates), hard, oval. The fruit are small, flat achenes with a narrow, opaq edge. Achenes round to pentagonal, reddish brown.