You have certainly seen the so-called catkins of the alder before. Although the blossoms of the alder vary in appearance depending on the variety, the long, tufted panicles of the male blossoms are common to all species and captivate with their bizarre appearance. Only allergy sufferers have no reason to be happy. The pollen causes strong allergic reactions. Here you can find out everything you always wanted to know about the blossom of the alder.
The alder flowers before it gets any leaves
flowering time of the alder
The alder flowers very early. The buds appear before the leaves. However, the species native to Germany sprout at different times:
- Black Alder: January to April
- Gray alder: January to April
- Green Alder: May to June
Male and female flowers
The alder has both male and female flowers, with only one sex maturing in a catkin. Specialists call these unisexual inflorescences monoecious. There are three flowers in male catkins, while only two flowers in female catkins. Did you know that the alder is the only deciduous tree in Germany. the cone carries. After the flowering period, the female catkins lignify and mature into cones, from which winged or wingless nuts will later form. The male flowers, on the other hand, have a more striking appearance. The alder is pollinated by the wind.
features
- female flowers are very inconspicuous
- in the case of the red alder, the female flowers are upright
- male flowers hang down in elongated panicles
- they are about 10 cm long (length varies depending on the variety)
- often hang in groups of four on an inflorescence
- the Alnus company alder bears yellow, male flowers