Alnus cordata Italian Alder

Alnus cordata, Italian Alder, is an alien in the Brirish Flora, native to southern Italy, Corsica and Albania. It produces quite large female 'cones', significantly bigger than those of Common Alder, and long, showy yellowish catkins which are prominent in Spring. The smooth, glossy and heart-shaped leaves are also quite distinctive. In West Glamorgan it is often planted along streets and roads and in parks. The large cones produce abundant seed and self-sowing commonly gives rise to saplings that grow quickly into small trees that become naturalised. It is fairly common on industrial estates, e.g. Baglan Energy Park. As with other Alder species, the roots of Italian Alder have a symbiotic association with a nitrogen-fixing actinomycete.

Neophyte