Unit 6 (006)

1. Stalked Buds

One fairly easy way to identify Alnus or Alders is the fact that they have stalked buds.

This is not common in most woody plants. See photos of Alnus glutinosa and Alnus

cordata for pictures of the buds.

2. Carpinus and Ostrya

Carpinus (Hornbeam) typically has smooth or muscle wood like bark. Ostrya (Hop

Hornbeam) has bark that is broken into narrow longitudinal strips that are loose at the

ends. This shreddy appearance makes it easy to identify Ostrya, even on very young

trees.

The leaves of these genera are very similar.