Alder
Okay, so imagine you have a bunch of different trees in a big forest. One of the trees in that forest is called alder. Alder trees are special because they can grow in places where other trees might not be able to, like in wet or marshy areas.
Now, let's take a really close look at an alder tree. See those little bumps on the bark? Those are called lenticels, and they help the tree breathe. Just like we breathe through our nose or mouth, trees need to breathe too!
And see those little cones on the branches? Those are called catkins. They don't look like the cones you might see on a pine tree, do they? That's because they actually contain little flowers that are pollinated by the wind.
Alder trees also have very special roots. They are called nitrogen-fixing roots, which means they take nitrogen from the air and turn it into a special kind of fertilizer that helps other plants grow. Pretty cool, huh?
So, to sum it up – alder trees are special because they can grow in wet areas, they have lenticels to help them breathe, catkins with tiny flowers, and nitrogen-fixing roots that help other plants grow.
Now, let's take a really close look at an alder tree. See those little bumps on the bark? Those are called lenticels, and they help the tree breathe. Just like we breathe through our nose or mouth, trees need to breathe too!
And see those little cones on the branches? Those are called catkins. They don't look like the cones you might see on a pine tree, do they? That's because they actually contain little flowers that are pollinated by the wind.
Alder trees also have very special roots. They are called nitrogen-fixing roots, which means they take nitrogen from the air and turn it into a special kind of fertilizer that helps other plants grow. Pretty cool, huh?
So, to sum it up – alder trees are special because they can grow in wet areas, they have lenticels to help them breathe, catkins with tiny flowers, and nitrogen-fixing roots that help other plants grow.