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White Poplar - Populus alba
Also commonly called "silver poplar." Willow
Family: Salicaceae.
Poplars have wind-pollinated catkins and leaves whose broad
blades have long petioles which may be flattened at one end.
Their shoots bear terminal buds, and all their buds have
overlapping scales. Hybrids grow more vigorously and provide
better timber than their parents.
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| Dark green, glossy poplar leaves toss in the
slightest breeze, revealing silvery-white
undersides. These trees are relatively rare here
near Chicago, but I'm not sure why. They present a
striking change from the usual crappy silver maples
and other shit trees most often planted by suburban
developers. |
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White Poplar bark is
whitish-grey and smooth above, becoming rough
and furrowed at base (shown).
The Willow family of trees (Salicaceae) has 350
or so species of willows and poplars, which are
mainly natives of the Northern Hemisphere. The
one uniting feature of all Salicaceaes is their
flowers; they have neither petals nor sepals but
are borne in catkins that usually appear with or
before the tree's new leaves. Both willows and
poplars prefer moist sites and hybridize so
easily identification is sometimes difficult.
These trees were growing along the banks of a
small creek, along with various willows. |
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These white poplars are 80 feet
tall, with 2-foot diameter trunks. White Poplars are
native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa; they were
introduced to North America during colonial times.
They grow rapidly and spread readily by root sprouts
- so readily they often become undesirable as weeds.
Along with Quaking Aspen, white poplar belongs to a
group of poplars with smooth barks and coarsely
serrate leaves.
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