Red Alder At The River

While feeding the main herd across the river I noticed yet another sign of spring. It didn’t matter that the temperature had been 27 degrees when I woke up this morning or that we had been having spitting showers of tiny snowflakes on and off most of the morning. The alder trees along the river are beginning to redden.

Very interesting and too long to share full version can be found in a publication by the USDA:

Native American tribes from Alaska to Southern California have long recognized the value of red alder and put its bark layers, roots, leaves, twigs, cones, and sap to use for a variety of purposes. The inner bark was often dried, grounded into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups or mixed with cereals when making bread. Various layers of the red alder bark yield red, red-brown, brown, orange, and yellow dyes (Moerman1998). The various colors from the bark were used to color baskets, hides, moccasins, quills, and hair. The native Americans of the Pacific Northwest extracted a red dye from the inner bark, which was used to dye fishnets. Oregon tribes used the innerbark to make a reddish-brown dye for basket decorations (Murphey 1959). Yellow dye made from red alder catkins was used to color quills. A mixture of red alder sap and charcoal was used by the Cree and Woodland tribes for sealing seams in canoes and as a softener for bending boards for toboggans (Moerman 1998). © Tony Morosco@ CalFloraWood and fiber: Red alder wood is used in the production of wooden products such as food dishes, furniture, sashes, doors, millwork, cabinets, paneling and brush handles. It is also used in fiber-based products such as tissue and writing paper. In Washington and Oregon, it was largely used for smoking salmon. The Indians of Alaska used the hallowed trunks for canoes (Sargent 1933). Medicinal: The North American Indians used the bark to treat many complaints such a headaches, rheumatic pains, internal injuries, and diarrhea (Moerman 1998). The Salinan used an extract of the bark of alder trees to treat cholera, stomach cramps, and stomachaches (Heinsen 1972). The extract was made with 20 parts water to 1 part fresh or aged bark. The bark contains salicin, a chemical similar to aspirin (Uchytil 1989). Infusions made from the bark of red alders were taken to treat anemia, colds, congestion, and to relieve pain. Bark infusions were taken as a laxative and to regulate menstruation. The Pomo boiled the bark in water to make a wash to treat skin irritations and sores (Goodrich et al. 1980). Bark poultices were applied to reduce swelling. Chewing the bark helped to heal sores and ulcers in the mouth

I had no idea there were so many uses for the trees until I investigated. Now when I look at the aging trees along the river and see much more value that the need to keep the riparian area shady, I see the need for many more to be planted.

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