Alnus nepalensis is a large alder tree found in the subtropical highlands of the Himalayas. The tree is called Utis in Nepali language and Nepalese alder in English language. It is used in land reclamation, as firewood and for making charcoal.
Description
Alnus nepalensis is a large
deciduous alder with silver-gray bark that reaches up to 30 m in height and 60 cm in diameter. The
leaf are alternate, simple, shallowly toothed, with prominent veins parallel to each other, 7–16 cm long and 5–10 cm broad. The
are
, with the male and female flowers separate but produced on the same tree. The male flowers are long and pendulous, while the female flowers are erect, , with up to eight together in axillary racemes.
Unusually for an alder, they are produced in the autumn, with the
maturing the following year.
Distribution
It occurs throughout the Himalaya at 500–3000 m of elevation from
Pakistan through
India,
Nepal and
Bhutan to
Yunnan in southwest
China. It grows best on deep volcanic loamy soils, but also grows on clay, sand and gravel. It tolerates a wide variety of soil types and grows well in very wet areas. It needs plenty of moisture in the soil and prefers streamside locations, but also grows on slopes.
Uses
The tree grows quickly and is sometimes planted as
erosion control on hillsides and for land recovery in shifting cultivation. It has nodules on the roots which fix nitrogen. The
wood is moderately soft. It is occasionally used for making boxes and in light construction but is mainly used as firewood, when it burns evenly but rather rapidly, and for making charcoal. Currently, this tree species is preferred by different indigenous ethnic groups such as H'mong, Nung and Thu Lao in Simacai district, Lao Cai province, Northern Vietnam to regreen and enrich the forest by local knowledge (
SPERI, CENDI).
[
]
External links
