Showing posts with label and piles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label and piles. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Gray Alder, Alnus incana Nitrogen Fixing Tree and Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 266-365
















Alnus incana is a deciduous Tree growing to 18 m (59ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a fast rate.
It is hardy to zone (UK) 2. It is in flower from Feb to March. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by Wind.It can fix Nitrogen. 


Alders have nodules on their roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria. When an alder rots, this nitrogen is added to the soil.

These plants are wind pollinated. Their pollen grains are so small (0.03mm) they can float long distances on a slight breeze

Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Reforestation

This species fixes atmospheric nitrogen and is also tolerant of polluted soils, it can be used for land reclamation, especially on coal tips. This is an excellent pioneer species for re-establishing woodlands on disused farmland, difficult sites.

 Its fast rate of growth means that it quickly provides sheltered conditions to allow more permanent woodland trees to become established. 

In addition, bacteria on the roots fix atmospheric nitrogen - whilst this enables the tree to grow well in quite poor soils it also makes some of this nitrogen available to other plants growing nearby

Alder trees also have a heavy leaf canopy and when the leaves fall in the autumn they help to build up the humus content of the soil. 

Alder seedlings do not compete well in shady woodland conditions and so this species gradually dies out as the other trees become established. The bark and the fruits contain up to 20% tannin. Wood - light, soft, fairly elastic, easy to split. 

  • Prefers a heavy soil and a damp situation. 
  • Grows well in heavy clay soils 
  • Thrives in drier soils than many other members of this genus. 
  • Tolerates very infertile sites. 
  • This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil micro-organisms, these form nodules on the roots of the plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen. 
  • Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. 
  • Special Features:Attractive foliage,
  •  Not North American native, 
  • Wetlands plant, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
Medicinal Uses

  • An infusion of the bark is used as a gargle fortreating sore throat, poor circulation, diarrhea and eye problems.
  • Bark (outer & inner) is astringent and powerfully bitter.
  • Bark 3.5g boiled in 250ml vinegar is a good remedy for lice. This also makes an excellent mouth wash when diluted with equal parts water.
  • Bark is dried and aged for several weeks, then powdered. 30ml powdered bark is mixed with 250ml brown apple cider and 5ml is taken 3 times a day to relieve constipation.
  • Leaves applied directly to bare feet in shoes helps with blisters, burning and aching.
  • Leaves are used to relieve inflammation.
  • Leaves in decoction have been used to soak sore feet.
  • Buds and green cones can be chewed and the juice swallowed. This is good juice and good for colds.
  • Bark decoctions were used to relieve cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, to aid circulation, sooth stomach ache, ease childbirth, stop bleeding, and also to treat eye problems.
  • Leaves were moistened with warm milk and used as a poultice to relieve external swellings and inflammation or somtetimes used alone.
  • Twig decoctions were drunk as a remedy for impure blood.
Native Americans used speckled alder 
  • to treat anemia, as an emetic, 
  • acompress or wash for sore eyes, and 
  • a diaphoretic, 
  • for internal bleeding, 
  • urinary problems, 
  • sprains, 
  • bruises or 
  • backaches, 
  • itches, 
  • flux, and 
  • piles, 
  • to cure saddle gall in horses.

Folklore:
  • Some Dena'ina say it should not be used for cooking meat because a red juice which looks like blood bubles out of it when it is burned.
  • In Europe was considered a spirit-haunted tree, and when cut it may begin to , bleed, weep or even speak.