Alnus nitida
Botanical illustration
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Betulaceae
Genus: Alnus
Species:
A. nitida
Binomial name
Alnus nitida
Synonyms[3]

Clethropsis nitida Spach

Alnus nitida, the west Himalayan alder, is a species in the genus Alnus, native to Pakistan, the western Himalayas, and Nepal.[3] It is a tree reaching 20 to 25 m, preferring to live along the banks of rivers. It is used locally for timber and firewood, and as a street tree.[4] The bark is used in some places for tanning and dyeing purposes.[5] It grows well in heavy, clay soils and tolerates infertile soils.[6] The leaves are thin, oval to ovate, 3-6 inches long and 2-3 inches wide.[7] Female flowers appear first, followed by male catkinss in September to October, which may be up to 19 cm long.[5] The fruits are woody cones, typically 2.5-3.5 cm long.[8]

This tree may be attacked by the apple stem borer (Trirachys holosericeus).[9]

In some places, the bark is used as an anti-inflammatory. One study examined its chemical components and concluded it has antioxidant potential.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Shaw K, Roy S, Wilson B (2014). "Alnus nitida". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T194659A2356455. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T194659A2356455.en. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Gen. Pl., Suppl. 4(2): 20 (1847)
  3. 1 2 "Alnus nitida (Spach) Endl". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  4. ↑ Khan MK, Muhammad N, Uddin N, Ali N, Umer M, Ullah S (2020). "Genetic diversity in threatened plant species Alnus nitida (Spach.) Endel". Plant Science Today. 7 (3): 314–318. doi:10.14719/pst.2020.7.3.759.
  5. 1 2 "Alnus nitida in Flora of Pakistan @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  6. ↑ "Alnus nitida - Useful Temperate Plants". temperate.theferns.info. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  7. ↑ "Alnus nitida - Trees and Shrubs Online". treesandshrubsonline.org. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  8. ↑ "Fact Sheet: Alnus nitida". idtools.org. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  9. ↑ "Alnus nitida (West Himalayan alder)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  10. ↑ Sajid M, Khan MR, Shah NA, Shah SA, Ismail H, Younis T, Zahra Z (August 2016). "Phytochemical, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of Alnus nitida bark in carbon tetrachloride challenged Sprague Dawley rats". BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 16 (1): 268. doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1245-3. PMC 4972964. PMID 27488054.


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