Alnus formosana

Alnus formosana, the Formosan alder, is a species of alder endemic to Taiwan.[1] It is a medium-sized tree, up to 20 metres (66 ft) in height.[2]

Formosan alder
Leaves and female infructescences
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Betulaceae
Genus: Alnus
Subgenus: Alnus subg. Clethropsis
Species:
A. formosana
Binomial name
Alnus formosana
Synonyms
  • Alnus maritima (Marshall) Nuttall var. formosana Burkill
  • Alnus japonica (Thunberg) Steudel var. formosana Callier

Description

The formosan alder is a trees up to 20 meters in height with dark gray-brown bark. The petiole is 1.2-2.2 cm, slender; leaves elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, rarely ovate-oblong, 6-12 × 2–5 cm, hairy in the axils of lateral veins beneath, almost hairless above, rounded or broadly cuneate base, irregularly minutely serrated margin, acuminate or acute apex; lateral veins 6 or 7 on each side of the midrib. It has one female inflorescence, or 2-4 in a cluster, ellipsoid, 1-2.5 cm; peduncle 3–5 mm.[2]

Distribution and habitat

It is found in Taiwan. It is a common species growing on riverbanks from near sea level to 2,900 metres (9,500 ft).[2]

Ecology

Alnus formosana flowers between May–June, fruiting between July–September.[2]

References

  1. "Alnus formosana (Burkill) Makino". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  2. Pei-chun Li & Alexei K. Skvortsov. "Alnus formosana". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
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