Alder vs. Birch — What's the Difference?

Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants, Alnus, belonging to the birch family Betulaceae. The genus comprises about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few species extending into Central America, as well as the northern and southern Andes.

A birch is a thin-leaved deciduous hardwood tree of the genus Betula (), in the family Betulaceae, which also includes alders, hazels, and hornbeams. It is closely related to the beech-oak family Fagaceae.

A widely distributed tree of the birch family which has toothed leaves and bears male catkins and woody female cones.

Any of various deciduous trees or shrubs of the genus Betula, native to the Northern Hemisphere and having unisexual flowers in catkins, alternate, simple, toothed leaves, and bark that often peels in thin papery layers.

Any of various deciduous shrubs or trees of the genus Alnus, native chiefly to northern temperate regions and having alternate simple toothed leaves and woody, conelike female catkins.

The hard, close-grained wood of any of these trees, used especially in furniture, interior finishes, and plywood.

The wood of any of these plants, used in carvings and for making furniture and cabinets.

A rod from a birch, used to administer a whipping.

Any of several trees or shrubs of the genus Alnus, belonging to the birch family.

To whip with or as if with a birch.

An alderman or alderwoman.

Any of various trees of the genus Betula, native to countries in the Northern Hemisphere.

A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the genus Alnus. The wood is used by turners, etc.; the bark by dyers and tanners. In the U. S. the species of alder are usually shrubs or small trees.

A hard wood taken from the birch tree, typically used to make furniture.

Of all; - used in composition; as, alderbest, best of all, alderwisest, wisest of all.

A stick, rod or bundle of twigs made from birch wood, used for punishment.

Wood of any of various alder trees; resistant to underwater rot; used for bridges etc

A birch-bark canoe.

North temperate shrubs or trees having toothed leaves and conelike fruit; bark is used in tanning and dyeing and the rot-resistant wood

To punish with a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood.

To punish as though one were using a stick, bundle of twigs, or rod made of birch wood.

A tree of several species, constituting the genus Betula; as, the white or common birch (Betula alba) (also called silver birch and lady birch); the dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (Betula papyracea); the yellow birch (Betula lutea); the black or cherry birch (Betula lenta).

The wood or timber of the birch.

A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging.

A birch-bark canoe.

Of or pertaining to the birch; birchen.

To whip with a birch rod or twig; to flog.

Hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood

Any betulaceous tree or shrub of the genus Betula having a thin peeling bark

Bundle of birch twigs used to hit people as punishment

Whip with a birch twig

Consisting of or made of wood of the birch tree