Populus alba

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

White poplar

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Salicaceae
Genus: Populus
Section: Populus sect. Populus
Species:
P. alba
Binomial name
Populus alba
Native range
Synonyms[2]
List
  • Leuce alba (L.) Opiz
  • Populus aegyptiaca W.Baxter
  • Populus arbeel Curtis
  • Populus arembergiana Dippel
  • Populus arembergica Lodd. ex Loudon
  • Populus bachofenii Wierzb. ex Rchb.
  • Populus belgica Lodd. ex Loudon
  • Populus berkarensis Poljakov
  • Populus bolleana Lauche
  • Populus caspica (Bornm.) Bornm.
  • Populus denudata A.Braun
  • Populus excelsa Salisb.
  • Populus grisea Lodd. ex Loudon
  • Populus hickeliana Dode
  • Populus hybrida M.Bieb.
  • Populus hyrcana Grossh.
  • Populus intermedia Mert. ex Loudon
  • Populus major Mill.
  • Populus morisetiana Dode
  • Populus nivea (Aiton) Willd.
  • Populus paletskyana Dode
  • Populus palmata Loudon
  • Populus pseudonivea Grossh.
  • Populus quercifolia Loudon
  • Populus subintegerrima (Lange) Sennen & Mauricio
  • Populus triloba Dode
  • Populus viminalis Poir.

Populus alba, commonly called silver poplar,[3][4] silverleaf poplar,[3][4] or white poplar,[3][4] is a species of poplar, most closely related to the aspens (Populus sect. Populus). It is native to a region spanning from the Atlas Mountains of Africa, through most of South and Central Europe, into Central Asia; it has been introduced to many temperate, moist regions worldwide. It grows in moist sites, often by watersides, in regions with hot summers and cold to mild winters.[5][6]

Description

It is a medium-sized

dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate trees; the male catkins are grey with conspicuous dark red stamens, the female catkins are greyish-green. The female catkins lengthen to 8–10 cm (3+1⁄4–4 in) after pollination, with several green seed capsules, maturing in late spring to early summer. It also propagates by means of root suckers growing from the lateral roots, often as far as 20–30 m (65–100 ft) from the trunk, to form extensive clonal colonies.[6][7]

Distinguishing features of the white poplar
Foliage of the white poplar
White poplar leaves; underside left, upper side right
Trunk, showing the characteristic diamond-shaped marks

Hybridization

Alley of grey poplars

White poplar hybridizes with the closely related common aspen

hybrid vigour, reaching 40 m (130 ft) tall and a trunk diameter over 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in), much larger than either of its parents. Most grey poplars in cultivation are male, but female trees occur naturally and some of these are also propagated.[6]

Cultivation and uses

Populus alba Pyramidalis
Yarkand and Kargilik
Populus alba - wood

The wood is soft but close-grained and easy to carve, shrinking very little during seasoning. It has been used for sculpture from Europe to China and the US.[8] The Penitent Magdalene by Donatello is one 15th-century example.

It was the most commonly used wood for panel paintings in Italy throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, until mostly replaced as a matrix by canvas from 1500 onwards. Most earlier Italian Renaissance paintings are painted on poplar panels, the Mona Lisa being but one example.

White poplar requires abundant light and ample moisture, and stands up well to flood water and slightly acidic soils. Its green-and-white leaves make it an effective

sand dunes.[9]

A yellow dye is produced from the bark of the white poplar.[10]

The majority of white poplars in cultivation in northern Europe are female trees.[7]

Americas

White poplar was first introduced to North America in 1748 and has a long history in cultivation. It is now found in 43 states throughout the contiguous U.S.[11] It has come to be considered weedy or invasive; it has been banned in Connecticut and is the most common introduced tree species on Cape Breton Island.[12][13][14][15]

In US intensive forest management, it is being replaced by various Populus sect. Aigeiros hybrids. The wood is soft, and used for cellulose and to make cheap boxes.[citation needed]

It also grows in the temperate zones of South America. Mainly in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay[citation needed] A conical cultivar from Turkestan, Populus alba 'Pyramidalis' (Bolle's poplar; syn. P. bolleana) is sometimes planted in parks.[6]

History

An Old English name abele, now not used, is derived from the Latin albellus, white, by way of Old French aubel and Low German name abeel.[9]

Oceanid, a daughter of Oceanus. Hades fell in love with her and abducted her to the underworld. She lived out the span of her life in his realm, and when she died, the god sought consolation by creating a suitable memorial of their love: In the Elysian Fields, where the pious spend their afterlives, he brought forth a white tree into existence from her body, which became sacred for him from that moment on. In Ancient Greco-Roman mythology, it is a symbol of a peaceful afterlife and a memory of those we love who have died, and in the language of flowers
, its meaning is "time". Herakles crowned himself with this tree to celebrate his return from the underworld.

According to ancient Roman mythology, the white poplar was consecrated to Hercules because he destroyed Cacus in a cavern adjoining the Aventine Hill, which was covered with these trees; in the moment of his triumph, he bound his brows with a branch of white poplar as a token of his victory. Persons offering sacrifices to Hercules were always crowned with branches of this tree, and all who had gloriously conquered their enemies in battle wore garlands of it, in imitation of Hercules. Homer in Iliad compares the fall of Simoisius when killed by Ajax to that of a poplar.

So falls a poplar that on watery ground
Raised high its head with stately branches crowned.

Rosalind upon the trees of the forest of Arden
.

Virgil gives directions for the culture of this tree and Horace speaks of the white poplar as delighting to grow on the banks of rivers.[12]

Invasive potential

The white poplar is an invasive species in many parts of

Victoria. It has spread along the Murrumbidgee River and in wet areas in rural parts of the Australian Capital Territory.[16] Despite that, it is still sold in nurseries around Australia.[17] White poplar is also an environmental weed in South Africa.[16]

References

  1. ^ Rivers, M.C.; Mark, J. & Khela, S. (2017). "Populus alba". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T203464A68106850. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Populus alba". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Populus alba". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. ^ a b c Webb, C. J.; Sykes, W. R.; Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. 4. Christchurch, New Zealand, Botany Division, D.S.I.R.
  5. ^ Flora Europaea: Populus alba
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-00-220013-9
    .
  7. ^ a b Flora of NW Europe: Populus alba Archived 2010-08-27 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ISBN 3-8382-5662-X, 9783838256627; [1]
  9. ^ a b Vedel, H., & Lange, J. (1960). Trees and Bushes in Wood and Hedgerow. Metheun & Co. Ltd., London.
  10. ISBN 0192176218
    ., s.v. Populus alba
  11. ^ "PCA Alien Plant Working Group – White Poplar (Populus alba)". Nps.gov. 2009-07-07. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
  12. ^ a b Keeler, H. L. (1900). Our Native Trees and How to Identify Them pp. 428–432. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York
  13. ^ "PLANTS Profile for Populus alba (white poplar) | USDA PLANTS". Plants.usda.gov. 1999-10-19. Archived from the original on 2010-10-15. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
  14. ^ "white poplar, Populus alba (Salicales: Salicaceae)". Invasive.org. 2010-05-04. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
  15. ^ US invasive state location map
  16. ^ a b "White Poplar". Weedy Connection. Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
  17. ^ "Poplar Tree Listing". Small Tree Farm. Retrieved 2015-10-18.

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