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Nepal Alder
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Nepal Alder
ative Photo: Prashant Awale
Common name: Nepal Alder, Himalayan alder, Indian Alder • Hindi: उतिस Utis • Manipuri: ꯄꯔꯦꯡ Pareng • Mizo: Hriangpui • Nepali: उतिस Utis, Boshi swa • Tangkhul: Ngavathing • Angami: Rupruo
Botanical name: Alnus nepalensis    Family: Betulaceae (Birch family)

Nepal Alder is a large deciduous tree with bark which is dark green, and can become silvery-grey in the open. Male flowers are borne in slender catkins, up to 12 cm long. Female flowers are borne in avoid cone-like clusters, up to 1.5 cm long, which become woody. Leaves are elliptic to ovate with rounded or shortly pointed tip. Margins are sometimes wavy. Nutlet has a narrow papery wing. Wood of this tree is soft and light, and easily worked. It is occasionally used for making boxes and in light construction, and as firewood. Bark is used for deying and tanning. Nepal Alder is found in the Himalayas, from Himachal Pradesh to SW China and Burma, at altitudes of 1000-3000 m. It is often planted to prevent landslides. Flowering: October-December.

Identification credit: Prashant Awale Photographed in Shillong, Meghalaya.

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