BY RORY KINANE

The Alder Tree

My TreeThe tree I am using for my project is an Alder

tree. It is in my estate. It is about 16 years old and about 4.5 metres high. The branches are smooth with pale bumps. The trunk is rough with fissures and lichen.

AlderAlder (Irish: Fearnóg, Latin: Alnus Glutinosa)

is a deciduous tree native to Europe, North America and Asia. They are commonly found in damp areas near lakes and rivers. One of its names is Scots Mahogany because it is so good for furniture.

Facts

The coat of arms for the Austrian town Grossarl.

A red dye can be extracted from the outer bark, and a yellow dye from the inner bark.

The flowers of the Alder tree are called catkins.

Folklore

The Irish considered it unlucky to pass an Alder tree on a journey. But if you put an Alder leaf in the sole of each shoe it would cool the feet and prevent swelling.

The living wood of alder is a pale colour but turns a deep orange when cut. This gave the impression of bleeding and led to all sorts of negative superstitions about the tree. 

Poetry

Planting The AlderFor the bark, dulled argent, roundly wrapped

And pigeon collared.For the splitter-splatter, guttering

Rain-flirt leaves.For the snub and clot of the first green cones,

Smelted emerald, chlorophyll.For the scut and scat of cones in winter,

So rattle-skinned, so fossil-brittle.For the alder wood, flame-red when torn

Branch from branch.But mostly for the swinging locks

Of yellow catkins.Plant it, plant it,

Streel-head in the rain.

          Seamus Heaney

Leaves