Alnus viridis
 
Green Alder

Leaf Top, in Sunlight

Crooked Lake Provincial Park
04-June-2006

Note the shiny surface.

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