at Port Chusan; and in Formosa, it grows near Tamsui at the north end of the island. According to Sargent, it is the most beautiful and largest of the alders in Japan, forming a pyramidal tree, often 70 or 80 feet in height, and well furnished to the ground with branches clothed with large dark green lustrous leaves. It differs from A. maritima in the larger, differently shaped and coloured leaves, and in the time of flowering.
Sargent states that it is perfectly hardy in New England, where it grows rapidly and promises to become a large and handsome tree. It was introduced, according to Nicholson,’ in 1886. There are small healthy trees in the collection at Kew; and at Aldenham a specimen is about 14 feet high. (A.H.)
ALNUS NITIDA, Himalayan Alder
- Alnus nitida, Endlicher, Gen. Pl. Suppl. 1V. ii. 20 (1847); Brandis, Forest Flora N.-W. India, 460, t. 57 (1874), and Indian Trees, 623 (1906); Hooker, Flora Brit. India, v. 600 (1888), and Bot. Mag. t. 7654 (1899); Gamble, Indian Timbers, 670 (1902); Winkler, Betulaceæ, 108 (1904).
- Clethropsis nitida, Spach, Ann. Sc. Nat. sér. 2, xv. 202 (1841); Cambessedes in Jacquemont, Voy. dans l'Inde, Bot. 159, t. 159 (1844).
A large tree attaining 100 feet in height and 15 feet in girth. Bark blackish, with thin quadrangular scales. Young branchlets densely and minutely pubescent. Leaves (Plate 268, Fig. 3) about 5 inches long, and 2½ inches broad, ovate-elliptical or elliptical, base rounded or cuneate, apex acuminate; margin entire, obscurely crenate, or remotely and slightly serrate; thin in texture; nerves, nine to twelve pairs, looping before reaching the margin; upper surface dark green, glabrous, shining ; lower surface light green, glabrous except for slight axil-tufts ; petiole, ¾ to 1 inch, minutely pubescent. Male catkins, 2 inches long, in terminal erect, often leafy racemes. Cones, ¾ to 1½ inch long, three to five in erect lateral racemes ; nutlet with a narrow thickened margin. The flowers in this species open in September.
Alnus nitida occurs in the north-western Himalaya, from Kashmir to Kumaon, usually at low elevations, 2000 to 4000 feet, fringing the banks of rivers, and not uncommonly descending with them into the plains. It occasionally, however, ascends as high as gooo feet ; and is common on the Sutlej in the dry region of Kunawar, as far as Spui on the right bank and Namgia on the left bank, according to Brandis, who states that it attains 100 feet high and 15 feet in girth; but Gamble has never seen it so big, and says it is usually crooked and branching. An attempt was made recently to float out the wood from the Tons river forest, but failed, as the timber quickly became waterlogged. The bark is used for tanning and dyeing.
Alnus nitida is one of the few Himalayan broad-leaved trees which have
1 Dict. Gardening, Suppl. 34 (1900).
