California Alder, White Alder
Alnus rhombifolia
Synonym: Alnus rhombifolia var. bernardina
The photo above shows a close-up view of the upper leaf surface of white alder from the shoreline of the Deschutes River in the eastern Columbia River Gorge....................Spetember 1, 2007.
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Additional close-up photos of white alder as seen from both the eastern and western shorelines of the Deschutes River about one-quarter mile upstream of the Columbia River................February 11, 2012. A close-up of the female catkins can be seen in the photo at lower left. They tend to be much smaller than the male catkins, bloom later and tend to be found on side branches just upstream from the terminal male catkins. Note the red styles exserted between the scales of the female catkins.
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A close-up of the female cones of white alder in flower along old highway 8 near the Labyrinth, central Columbia River Gorge.............February 15, 2012.
The photo above shows a close-up view of the female catkins of white alder as seen from the shoreline of the Deschutes River in the eastern Columbia River Gorge....................Spetember 1, 2007. These will mature and release seeds during the following season.
The photo above shows a close-up view of the male catkins of white alder as seen from the shoreline of the Deschutes River in the eastern Columbia River Gorge....................Spetember 1, 2007. Note the male catkins which are beginning to form. These catkins form in the fall and will begin to flower by late January at lower elevations in the Gorge. Note that each plant contains both male and female catkins.
Another view of the upper leaf surface of white alder from the shoreline of the Deschutes River in the eastern Columbia River Gorge....................Spetember 1, 2007.
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Male catkins of white alder nearly ready to release their pollen in late January. Photographed along the east bank of the Deschutes River near MP 3.0................January 28, 2011. Note last year's female catkins present on some of the branches. This species blooms before any leaves form.
Paul Slichter