ALDER

THE FOLKLORE OF PLANTS: Alder

Lisa Karen Miller

The alder has long been associated with the ancient Welsh king Bran, whose name means crow or raven. By this association, the alder is said to be kin to the ravens who often roost in its branches. If you befriend such a raven, he will teach you to read the omens of birds in flight and develop the gift of prophecy.

It was once a punishable offence to fell an alder because the wood, once cut, turns from white to red – an omen of death. Its sap is also red, which color was associated with blood and war.

The alder yields three dyes: red from the bark, green from the flowers, and brown from the twigs. They signify fire, water, and earth, respectively.

In Somerset, England, those who traveled by night would never enter an alder copse. The superstition “they’ll keep ‘ee” was widely believed.

In Ireland, it was considered the best wood for milk pails and other dairy vessels. Its poetic name was Comet lachta, or guardian of the milk.

It’s said that an alder can only be happy with its roots in water. The seedpods are not provided with wings as are some trees, but watertight capsules that float down the stream to lodge and germinate in a bank a bit further on. Because it is typically found in wet places, its resistance to damp is legendary. The piles of the Rialto in Venice, Italy are made of alder wood.

House-proud housewives would spread its tacky spring leaves on their floors to capture crawling insects – the first sticky traps.

The soft inner flesh of alder shoots is easily pushed out; therefore, it was used to make whistles. A set of pipes made by lashing together a number of these was used to summon the aid of air elementals – helpful spirits. It is from this practice we get the expression “whistling up the wind.”

Alder leaves are cool and soothe burnt or irritated skin. Fresh leaves placed inside the shoes will ease foot pain on long walks. A tea made with the bark soothes rheumatism.

A creepy tale from Tyrol relates that a boy who had climbed up an alder saw at its foot a group of sorcerers. Alder had long been favored for casting spells. He saw them cut up the body of a woman and throw the pieces into the air. The boy caught one of them. When the sorcerers discovered there was a piece missing, they replaced it with a bit of alder wood, whereupon the woman was restored to life.

Watch out for alders on your next visit to the creek. Just look for the ravens.