Alnus Mill.
Alder
The Alnus genus consists of alder trees, of which there are about 30 species. Alders are members of the birch family. Most are small or medium-sized trees with multiple trunks and branches, often appearing as tall woody shrubs. Their small cone-like fruits, which remain on the trees throughout the winter, are their most recognizable feature.
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Some alders compared. |
Online References:
Alnus on Flora of North America (technical description)
Alnus on Wikipedia
References:
Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, pp. 159-165
Alder (Alnus) · 9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4″ (13 × 10 cm) 
Species not yet identified 
Green alder (Alnus viridis) · 9/20/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm) ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Fagales | Birch, she-oak, beech, walnut, bayberry, others |
| Family | Betulaceae | Birch family: birches, alders, hazels, hornbeams and hop-hornbeams |
| Genus | Alnus | The classical Latin name for this genus |
Alnus description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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