Family: Betulaceae, Birch view all from this family

Description A low and clump-forming shrub; sometimes a small tree.
Height: 20' (6 m).
Diameter: 4" (10 cm).
Leaves: in 3 rows; 2-4" (5-10 cm) long, 1 1/4-3" (3-7.5 cm) wide. Elliptical or ovate, broadest near or below middle; doubly and irregularly saw-toothed and wavy-lobed; with 9-12 nearly straight parallel veins on each side; short, hairy stalks. Dull dark green with network of sunken veins above; whitish-green and often with soft hairs, and with prominent veins and veinlets arranged in rows like a ladder beneath.
Bark: gray, smooth.
Twigs: gray-brown, slender, slightly hairy when young; with 3-angled pith.
Flowers: tiny; in early spring before leaves. Male in drooping catkins 1 1/2-3" (4-7.5 cm) long. Female in cones 1/4" (6 mm) long.
Cones: 1/2-5/8" (12-15 mm) long; elliptical, blackish, hard, short-stalked; maturing in autumn; with tiny rounded flat nutlets.

Habitat Wet soil along streams and lakes, and in swamps.

Range Widespread across Canada from Yukon and British Columbia to Newfoundland, south to West Virginia, west to NE. Iowa, and north to NE. North Dakota; almost to northern limit of trees; in south to 2600' (792 m).

Discussion The Latin subspecies name, meaning "rugose" or "wrinkled," refers to the network of sunken veins prominent on the lower leaf surfaces. Planted as an ornamental at water edges. Alder thickets provide cover for wildlife, browse for deer and moose, and seeds for birds.