A deciduous, N temperate tree; triangular-ovoid to almost heart-shaped leaves; flowers tiny, in pendulous catkins appearing before leaves; seeds with cottony white hairs, which aid wind-dispersal and give rise to the American name cottonwood. Very fast-growing, it is used for cheap timber, matchwood, paper pulp, and as ornamentals. Some species (balsam poplars) have aromatic timber. (Genus: Populus, 35 species. Family: Salicaceae.)
For other uses, see Poplar (disambiguation).| iPoplar, Aspen, Cottonwood | ||||||||||||
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Western Balsam Poplar foliage |
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
Populus is a genus of trees which includes the cottonwoods, poplars, and aspens, all of which are sometimes termed poplars (in some areas "popple"). The leaves of many poplars, including the cottonwoods and aspens (but not the balsam poplars), have laterally-flattened stems, so that breezes easily cause the leaves to wobble back and forth, giving the whole tree a "twinkling" appearance in a breeze. Poplars and aspens are important food plants for the larvae of a large number of Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Poplars. ClassificationPopulus section Populus - aspens and white poplar. Circumpolar subarctic and cool temperate, and mountains further south (white poplar warm temperate) Populus tremula - Common Aspen, Trembling Aspen or Eurasian Aspen. Populus alba - White Poplar. tremula) - Grey Poplar Populus section Aegiros - black poplars or cottonwoods. North America, Europe, western Asia; temperate Populus nigra - Black Poplar. deltoides) - Hybrid Black Poplar Populus deltoides - Eastern Cottonwood. cool temperate Populus angustifolia - Willow-leaved Poplar or Narrowleaf Cottonwood. Populus balsamifera - Ontario Balsam Poplar. Populus trichocarpa - Western Balsam Poplar or Black Cottonwood. Populus laurifolia - Laurel-leaf Poplar. Populus simonii - Simon's Poplar. Populus maximowiczii - Maximowicz' Poplar. Populus section Leucoides - necklace poplars or bigleaf poplars. Eastern North America, eastern Asia; Populus lasiocarpa - Chinese Necklace Poplar. Populus wilsonii - Wilson's Poplar. subtropical to tropical Populus euphratica - Euphrates Poplar. Populus ilicifolia - Tana River Poplar. |
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