Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Alnus acuminata
Livestock Forage
Fuelwood
Lumber
Medicinal
Product
English Common Name
Alder
Colombian Common Name
Aliso, Chaquiro, Cerezo, Pino aliso, Abedul, Cerezo real, Chaquero
Tree Family
Betulaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
13cm
Length
×
7cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
1500–3400m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Colombia
Native to
Region
Americas
Latin America
Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Venezuela
Colombia
Antioquia, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Quindío, Risaralda, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Unknown
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Tree Management
Propagated by seeds and sprouts. It has a short time and high germination rate. It is a fast-growing, pioneer, and heliophytic species that requires large amounts of sunlight. It can live up to 60 years.
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Livestock Forage
- Fuelwood
- Lumber
- Medicinal
- Product
Its bark is used for tannins and dyes extraction. Its leaves have medicinal properties for treating fever, hemorrhages, and rheumatism. Used as firewood. Also used in carpentry to make toothpicks, moldings, boxes, pencils, and handicrafts.
Farm Services
- Windbreak
- Soil Improvement
- Reforestation
- Nitrogen Fixation
- Carbon Capture
- Water Protection
Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon. Has a symbiotic relationship with Frankia sp., a nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Soil conservation and recovery of degraded areas, adding a significant amount of organic matter to the soil. Used for water protection and decontamination. It's a pioneer species with great potential in silvopastoral systems and living fences.
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
Attracts seed dispersers, Attracts pollinators, Wildlife habitat (birds)
Citations
Citations
Plants of the World Online (POWO). (2024). Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/;
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2024). IUCN Red List. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org/;
Fern, Ken (2024). Tropical Plants Database. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://tropical.theferns.info/;
Universidad EIA. (2024). Catálogo virtual de Flora del Valle de Aburrá. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://catalogofloravalleaburra.eia.edu.co/;
World Flora Online. (2024). World Flora Online. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.worldfloraonline.org/;
Universidad Nacional de Colombia. (2024). Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/es/;
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). (2024). GBIF. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/es/
Sistema de Información sobre Biodiversidad de Colombia (SIB) (2024). Catálogo de la Biodiversidad. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from: https://catalogo.biodiversidad.co/;
Cárdenas, L.M. (2016). Aspectos ecológicos y silviculturales para el manejo de especies forestales. Revisión de información disponible para Colombia. Fundación Natura. Bogotá D.C. Colombia;
Luna, G.C., Delgado, I.A., Burgos, L.C. (2022) Árboles conocimiento local en el Corregimiento de Morasurco, Pasto - Nariño. Universidad de Nariño