Red Alder

Quinault - malp     
Klallam - s'ko'niltc

Family:  Birch (Betulaceae)     
Genus:  Alnus     
Species:  rubra

Botanical Description:   Deciduous tree, bark-thin grey, smooth, with white lichen patches, rusty-red inner bark & wood.  Leaves-alternate, elliptic, vibrant green, smooth topped, w/ sharp-pointed base & tip, wavy, toothed edges that roll under - to 15 cm long.  Cylindrical, spiked catkins appear before leaves.  2 cm long cones in clusters. Prefers low elevations, moist woods, stream banks, & disturbed areas.

Ethnographic Information: Widely used for woodworking, e.g., feast bowls, masks, rattles, canoe bailers & paddles. Fuel wood for smoking salmon & other fish. Bark used to line pots, make reddish brown dye to camouflage fish nets, for antibiotic & as a treatment for tuberculosis. Fixes atmospheric nitrogen into soil, improves disturbed soils.