Mountain Alder Birch Betulaceae Alnus incana (L.) Moench
Low shrubs usually 2- 5 meters tall with grayish-brown to reddish bark. The
3-7 cm long elliptic to ovate oblong leaves have rounded to cordate bases and
rounded to slightly acute tips. The non-revolute margins are sinuate and serrate-denticulate.
The upper surface varies from pubescent to glabrous. The lower surface tends
to be very pubescent. The catkins appear before the leaves on the previous season's
growth. The pendulous staminate catkins vary from 3-10 cm long. The ovoid, 9-13
mm long pistillate catkins bear thin margined, but essentially wingless fruits.