Seeds spill from alders
Kristel Vilbaste, loodusenaine@hot.ee
Translation: Liis
The snow on the forest floor is full of alder seeds now. In addition to the tiny nutlets there are alder cones too. From the traces of wings and feet you can see that redpolls have been feasting here.
Now is also the time when the seeds that ripened in autumn drop. In the warm springtime sun the fruits open and the seeds drop on to the snow and disperse eventually with melting snow water..
The “cone“ of the alder develops from the whole female inflorescence and hides within itself a great number of winged one-seeded fruits – nutlets. After the seeds have ripened and been released the little “cones“ made up by the seed scales persist on the tree until next winter.
The “cone“ of the alder develops from the whole female inflorescence and hides within itself a great number of winged one-seeded fruits – nutlets. After the seeds have ripened and been released the little “cones“ made up by the seed scales persist on the tree until next winter.
The seed “cones“ were used by people in old times for healing and the seeds were particularly effective so the cones should be picked from October to February. Tea made from them helps against stomach troubles, inflammation of the gums and eye inflammations.
Botanist Urmas Laansoo recommends taking a close look at the buds too on an alder in winter. While the buds of most trees and bushes sit directly on the twig, on the alder they sit on a little stalk.
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