Common Name(s): Alder, aliso
Distribution: Primarily temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere
Genus Size: Around 50 species (with nearly 200 additional species names treated as synonyms)
Mechanical Characteristics: Wood is generally of low to medium weight for a hardwood, with relatively soft wood. Alder species have good dimensional stability, workability, and finishing properties.
Visual Characteristics: Alder species look very similar, and feature heartwood that’s light tan to reddish brown, darkening with age. There is no visible distinction between heartwood and sapwood. Large aggregate rays appear as occasional small streaks on the face grain that can be mistaken for defects in the wood.
Identification: The defining characteristic of Alnus species is its large, very sporadically occurring aggregate rays. On the face grain of the wood, the rays may be mistaken for occasional defects in the wood. With the exception of oak species (Quercus genus), alder stands as one of the few temperate species in the northern hemisphere that has aggregate rays.
Species listing