| | From weed tree to money tree - red alder American Forests - Find Articles (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12) |
 | | The supply has always been there, in great plenitude, because red alder (Alnus rubra to be technical about it) is a tree that moves speedily to establish itself in river bottoms and lowland areas once the dominant conifers are gone. |
 | | One reason for alder's fecundity is nature's perverse insistence on assuring the proliferation of its leastwanted species, as can be attested to by any homeowner struggling to enjoy a weed-free lawn next door to a vacant lot choked with dandelions. |
 | | For one thing, foresters have learned that alder is a beneficial tree in that it fixes nitrogen in the soil from nodules on its roots, so that once the alder dies (its lifespan is about 80 years), it leaves a better environment for conifers. |
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