Alnus viridis
 
Green Alder

Fruit from Previous Year's Pistillate Catkin

Fir River Road West of Hudson Bay
13-June-2014

The fruit is a broadly winged nutlet.  Note, the fruit of A. incana is narrow margined.

Note that Flora of Alberta calls this species A. crispa.  The key to the genera in Budd's Flora requires nutlets narrow-winged or with leathery margins; NOT [nutlets mostly broadly winged].  In fact, the nutlet of this species is broadly winged.

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Viridis: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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shrubs; NOT [tall shrub or small tree]

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leaves shining; NOT [leaves dull]

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leaf buds sessile; NOT [leaf buds stipitate]

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leaf buds covered by imbricate scales of unequal length; NOT [leaf buds covered by 2 or 3 scales of nearly equal length]

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flowers developed with the leaves on the twigs of the season; NOT [flowers developed before the leaves in early spring]

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nutlet broadly wing-margined, the body comprising less than half the width; NOT [nutlet wingless, merely margined]

 

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Alnus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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staminate flowers usually three in the axils of the catkin bracts; NOT [staminate flowers solitary in the axils of the catkin bracts]

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stamens 4; NOT [stamens 2]

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pistillate catkin elongated; NOT [pistillate flowers few in a short, bud-like catkin]

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bracts of pistillate catkins becoming thick and woody; NOT [bracts of pistillate catkins thin, 3-lobed]

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bracts of pistillate catkins persistent; NOT [bracts of pistillate catkins deciduous]

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fruit a nutlet in the axil of a catkin bract; NOT [fruit a nut enclosed in a leafy, hispid involucre with a long beak]

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nutlets narrow-winged or with leathery margins; NOT [nutlets mostly broadly winged], NOT [nuts wingless]

 
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Betulaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family.
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shrubs or trees; NOT [herbs]

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flowers with only one floral ring, with sepals but not petals

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male flowers, at least, in catkins or aments; NOT [flowers not in catkins or aments]

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styles 2; NOT [styles 3]

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fruit NOT an acorn

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seeds WITHOUT a tuft of hairs