Alder is a genus of trees and shrubs of the Birch family, uniting about 50 species. Nine of them grow in Russia.
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The real distribution of the tree in our country is the regions of the Urals and Western Siberia, as well as the North Caucasus.
The most important for the national economy is Black Alder (Alder sticky, or European). The trees reach a height of about thirty meters, the diameter of the trunk can reach 60 cm. The bark of the tree is dark brown with cracks. A freshly cut tree is white. Under the influence of air, the color of alder changes to a darker one (dark yellow or yellow-red). The texture of wood has a fairly homogeneous structure. The heartwood and sapwood do not differ in color. In order for an interesting pattern of alder to appear, it must be treated with a transparent varnish or stain. After that, the color of the alder becomes more noble, and is able to imitate expensive wood species.
According to the international standard DIN 4076, black alder wood is abbreviated "ER". In terms of strength, alder is in no way inferior to conifers, but surpasses linden and aspen.
Alder wood is highly resistant to water, making it widely used in underground and underwater construction. For example, piles were created from alder, holding the foundations of most structures in old Amsterdam. Alder wood is widely used in the national economy.
Alder is a wood that is in indispensable demand. It is in demand in the manufacture of furniture, as it is able to imitate the structure of mahogany. Today, the fashion for alder is returning, so many manufacturers have begun to make furniture boards from it.
Alder wood is also used in other areas. Charcoal is made from it, the bark is used for dyeing leather and fur products. Cones are widespread in folk medicine. Alder wood is ideal for carving. It is beautifully processed both by hand and on lathes, so alder is widely used in the manufacture of a variety of household utensils: from mop handles to picture and photo frames.
Alder is also used for the manufacture of peeled or sliced veneer. Color "alder" - one of the most popular for home furniture. Polishing, varnishing such furniture will not cause much trouble, it is easy to care for it.
It should be remembered that in case of contact between wet wood and iron, the color of alder changes: dark spots appear on it. Iron will rust. Also, contact with cement is harmful for alder: the wood deteriorates and losesits properties. Otherwise, alder wood is quite unpretentious in maintenance and resistant to external influences.
Due to its wide use, various types of alder are subject to rapid felling, so it is included in the Red Books of Kazakhstan, Moldova, the Omsk Region and the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature - endangered species are included in it.
