Belfast Botanic Gardens Tree Archive
This is one of a series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens compiled by the Friends group. The tree tag number relates to the BCC black tree maintenance tags, usually fixed on the tree trunk, 2 to 3m above ground level.
Family: Betulaceae
Alnus maximowiczii Callier
(one of the green alders)
Black tag 98
54o 34.977N
5o 56.047W
Alnus maximowiczii (which appears to have no common
name) is one of the green alders and used to be listed as Alnus viridis
subsp. Maximowiczii. It is a small tree, growing to 9 to 12m high
and is often multi-stemmed as in the example in Belfast Botanic Gardens. The
leaves are larger than those of our native alder and the tree casts a dense
shade in summer. The male and female flowers are separate, but may often appear
close together on the same branch. The male flowers are long yellowish catkins
and the female flowers are a short cylindrical structure with red stigmas.
The female cones develop into an ovate shape and remain on the tree long after
the seeds have been shed. They are very similar to the cones of the native
Alnus glutinosa and quickly show to what genus this tree belongs.
Alnus maximowiczii is native to the Russian far east, Japan, Korea
and the extinct volcanic island of Ullong Do between Japan and Korea. It seems
to be rare in cultivation but is listed by two UK specialist nurseries.
Alnus maximowicii in Belfast Botanic Gardens
(Ulster Museum Buildings behind the tree)
Alnus maximowiczii leaves
Alnus maximowiczii female flowers - the stigmas
are red, later turning brown as here.
Male catkins of Alnus maximowiczii
Old cones are retained on the tree after the seeds have been shed
Photos taken in Belfast Botanic Gardens in 2011. Copyright: Friends of Belfast Botanic