Utils or Nepalese alder, Alnus nepalensis D. Don. (Betulaceae), is a deciduous or semideciduous tree with a straight trunk that reaches up to 30 m in height and 60 cm (rarely to 2 m) in diameter.

A. nepalensis occurs throughout Nepal at 500-3000 m elevation. At lower altitudes particularly, utis occurs on moist sites, such as near rivers and in ravines, but it will colonize rocky sites exposed by landslips, or lands abandoned following cultivation. It occurs naturally in both pure and mixed stands.

Utis is well known as a species that gives some stability to slopes. Utis seed has been broadcast to stabilize landslides. In eastern Nepal, many community forests user groups have planted cardamom under utis.

External Links:

• A quick guide to useful nitrogen fixing trees from around the world
• Alnus nepalensis in Seed Leaflet