Populus tremuloides

Stacy Susann Slodysko
Higher Taxa
Genus: Populus
Family: Salicaceae
Order: Salicales
Group: Amenitiflorae
Subclass:Monochlamydea
Class: Dicotyledoneae
SubPhylum:Angiospermae
Phylum: Phaneogamae
Kingdom:Plantae

Taxa information provided by:
International Poplar Commission.Poplars and Willows in wood production and land use. FAO Forestry and Forest Products Studies, No. 12. 1958.

Species Description
"Recognized by portion of petiole adjacent to leaf blade conspicously flattened perpendicular to the blade; By leaves with 20-40 crenate to serrate teeth on a side. Trees to 33 m tall by 87 cm DBH. Winter buds sharptipped with sticky bud scales. Seed-bearing catkins about 10 cm long. Reproducing by root suckers as well as by seeds; a poineer in a manner similar to populus grandientata and often found with it. Occurring in a variety of soils in the open or in thin woods. Scattered loclities in the SE, mostly at higher elevations."

Information provided by:
Duncan,Marion and Wilbur.Trees of the Southeastern United States.UGA PRESS.Athens, GA. 1988.

Leaves 1 1/4 to 3 in in diameter; shape suborbicular to broadly ovate; margin finely cernate-serrate; apex acute to acuminate; base rounded; surfaces somewhat lustrous, green and glabrous above, duller and glabrous below; petioles latterally flattened, 1/2 to 3 in. long; fall color bright yellow
Fruit ca. 1/4 in. long, narrowly conical, curved
Twigs slender, lustrous, reddish brown; terminal buds conical, sharp pointed, someitimes very slightly resinous, covered by 6 to 7 visible, reddish-brown, imbricated scales; lateral buds incurved, similar to the terminal buds but smaller
Bark smooth, greenish white to cream-colored, at length furrowed, dark brown or gray, often roughened by numerous wartlike exerscences
information provided by:
Harlow, W.,Harrar, E.,Hardin, J.,White, F. Textbook of Dendrology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. New York. 1991.

For an image of the Quaking Aspen click here
Geography
AREA STATUS REFERENCES
North America Yes Duncan & Duncan 1988
Eastern North America Yes Duncan & Duncan 1988
Southeastern United States No Duncan & Duncan 1988
Southern Appalachian States No Duncan & Duncan 1988
Coastal Plain No Duncan & Duncan 1988
Piedmont No Duncan & Duncan 1988
Blue Ridge Mountains Marginal FAO 1979
Great Smokey Mountains Marginal FAO 1979
Ridge and Valley Marginal FAO 1979
Cumberland Plateau No FAO 1979
Central Arch No FAO 1979
Georgia No FAO 1979
Clarke County No FAO 1979
Sams Farm No FAO 1979

Natural History

In old growth forests, this species occurs as a scttered dominat tree, or along the edges of openings or water courses where there is sufficent exposure to light. Fires and logging usually destroy the organic matter over the wider areas and expose mineral rich soil. Such sites are favorable to this species, an aggressive pioneer, which spring up and serve as a cover for the more tolerant northern conifers and hardwoods which develop slowly beneath the canopy. After a while competition becomes a factor and many of the Aspens die off, and the few trees that are left maintain the dominace over the rapidly growing species below.

Unless managed most of this species is not prosperous after 60 years of age because of their rapid deterioration. Although some trees may live as long as 150 years. Over 500 different organisms feed off of the Quaking Aspen. In the northern regions of the United States this species is foumd to be valuable for its pulpwood production and are easily regenerated by coppice systems.

How to Encounter

Look for a tree about 50 to 60 feet tall at maturity, and has a long, clear bole and small rounded crown. They contain long narrow conical fruits and their twigs are reddish brown. They can be found in the Northern regions of the continent and are apparent in the fall with their bright yellow colored leaves.

References