Populus
Foliage of Populus tremula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malpighiales Family: Salicaceae Genus: Populus L.
Sections
See text

Populus is a genus of between 25–35 species of flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Dicotyledons, or "dicots", is a name for a group of Flowering plants whose Seed typically has two embryonic leaves or Cotyledons There The Malpighiales are a large order of Flowering plants included in the group named Eurosids I in the recent APG classification Salicaceae is a family of Flowering plants Recent genetic studies by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG has greatly expanded the circumscription Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Salicaceae is a family of Flowering plants Recent genetic studies by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG has greatly expanded the circumscription Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' English names variously applied to different species include poplar, aspen, and cottonwood.

Populus nigra in autumn

They are medium-sized to large or very large deciduous trees growing to 15–50 m tall, with trunks up to 2. Botany Autumn leaf color. See --> In Botany and Horticulture, deciduous Plants, including A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or 5 m diameter. The bark on young trees is smooth, white to greenish or dark grey, often with conspicuous lenticels; on old trees it remains smooth in some species, but becomes rough and deeply fissured in others. Bark, also known as periderm is the outermost layer of stems and Roots of Woody plants such as Trees It overlays the Wood and consists A lenticel is a spongy area present in the cork surfaces of the stems roots and other parts of vascular plants The shoots are stout, with (unlike in the related willows) the terminal bud present. Willows, sallows and osiers form the Genus Salix, around 400 species of Deciduous Trees and Shrubs found primarily The leaves are spirally arranged, and vary in shape from triangular to circular or (rarely) lobed, and with a long petiole; in species in the sections Populus and Aegiros, the petioles are laterally flattened, so that breezes easily cause the leaves to wobble back and forth, giving the whole tree a "twinkling" appearance in a breeze. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. In Botany, the petiole is the small stalk attaching the Leaf blade to the stem. Leaf size is very variable even on a single tree, typically with small leaves on side shoots, and very large leaves on strong-growing lead shoots. The leaves often turn bright gold to yellow before they fall during autumn. ^[1][2]

Male catkins of Populus × canadensis

The flowers are mostly dioecious (rarely monoecious) and appear in early spring before the leaves. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of Sexual reproduction systems found across the Plant kingdom Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of Sexual reproduction systems found across the Plant kingdom They are borne in long, drooping, sessile or pedunculate catkins produced from buds formed in the axils of the leaves of the previous year. A catkin or ament is a slim cylindrical flower cluster with inconspicuous or no petals usually Wind - pollinated ( anemophilous) but sometimes The flowers are each seated in a cup-shaped disk which is borne on the base of a scale which is itself attached to the rachis of the catkin. The scales are obovate, lobed and fringed, membranous, hairy or smooth, usually caducous. The male flowers are without calyx or corolla, and comprise a group of 4–60 stamens inserted on a disk; filaments short, pale yellow; anthers oblong, purple or red, introrse, two-celled; cells opening longitudinally. A sepal (from Latin separatus "separate" + petalum "petal" is a part of the flower of Angiosperms or flower plants A petal (from Ancient Greek petalon "leaf" "thin plate" regarded as a highly modified leaf is one member or part of the corolla The stamen ( Plural stamina or stamens, from Latin stamen meaning "thread of the warp " is the male The stamen ( Plural stamina or stamens, from Latin stamen meaning "thread of the warp " is the male The female flower also has no calyx or corolla, and comprises a single-celled ovary seated in a cup-shaped disk. The style is short, with 2–4 stigmas, variously lobed, and numerous ovules. Pollination is by wind, with the female catkins lengthening considerably between pollination and maturity. The fruit is a two to four-valved capsule, green to reddish-brown, mature in mid summer, containing numerous minute light brown seeds surrounded by tufts of long, soft, white hairs which aid wind dispersal. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. In Botany a capsule is a type of simple dry Fruit produced by many species of Flowering plants A capsule is a dehiscent structure composed of two A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored ^[1][3]

Poplars of the cottonwood section are often wetlands or riparian trees. "Riparian" redirects here For the legal doctrine see " Riparian water rights. The aspens are among the most important boreal broadleaf trees. Boreal is usually applied to Ecosystems localized to subarctic ( Northern hemisphere) and subantarctic ( Southern hemisphere) zones although Austral ^[1]

Poplars and aspens are important food plants for the larvae of a large number of Lepidoptera species - see List of Lepidoptera that feed on poplars. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. Poplars ( Populus spp are used as food plants by the Larvae of a large number of Lepidoptera species Monophagous

Classification

A group of poplars in a field

The genus Populus has traditionally been divided into six sections on the basis of leaf and flower characters;^[2][4] this classification is followed below. Recent genetic studies have largely supported this, though showing that the relationships are somewhat more complex, with some reticulate evolution due to past hybridisation and introgression events between the groups; some species (noted below) had differing relationships indicated by their nuclear DNA (paternally inherited) and chloroplast DNA sequences (maternally inherited), a clear indication of likely hybrid origin. In Biology, hybrid has two meanings The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa. ^[5] Hybridisation continues to be common in the genus, with several hybrids between species in different sections known. ^[1]

• Populus section Populus - aspens and White Poplar. Aspens are Trees of the willow family and comprise a section of the Poplar genus Populus sect Circumpolar subarctic and cool temperate, and mountains farther south (White Poplar warm temperate)
  • Populus tremula - Common Aspen, Trembling Aspen or Eurasian Aspen. Populus tremula ( Aspen, or Common Aspen or Eurasian Aspen to distinguish it from related species) is a species of Poplar Europe, northern Asia. This is the type species of the genus. In Taxonomy, a type species is the species that originally defined a genus.
  • Populus adenopoda - Chinese Aspen. Eastern Asia.
  • Populus alba - White Poplar. Populus alba ( White Poplar) is a species of Poplar, most closely related to the Aspens ( Populus sect Southern Europe to central Asia.
    • Populus × canescens (P. Populus alba ( White Poplar) is a species of Poplar, most closely related to the Aspens ( Populus sect alba × P. tremula) - Grey Poplar
  • Populus grandidentata - Bigtooth Aspen. Eastern North America.
  • Populus sieboldii - Japanese Aspen. Eastern Asia.
  • Populus tremuloides - Quaking Aspen or Trembling Aspen. Populus tremuloides, also known as American Aspen, Quaking Aspen, Trembling Aspen, Quakies, Quakers, Popple North America.

• Populus section Aegiros^[6] - black poplars or cottonwoods. The cottonwoods are three species of Poplars in the section Aegiros of the genus Populus, native to North America, Europe and western North America, Europe, western Asia; temperate
  • Populus deltoides - Eastern Cottonwood. The Eastern Cottonwood ( Populus deltoides) is a Cottonwood Poplar native to North America, growing throughout the eastern central and Eastern North America.
  • Populus fremontii - Fremont Cottonwood. Western North America.
  • Populus nigra - Black Poplar. Black poplar ( Populus nigra) is a Species of Poplar in the Cottonwood ( Aegiros) section of the genus Populus, native Europe. Placed here by nuclear DNA; cpDNA places in sect. Populus.
    • Populus × canadensis (P. Black poplar ( Populus nigra) is a Species of Poplar in the Cottonwood ( Aegiros) section of the genus Populus, native nigra × P. deltoides) - Hybrid Black Poplar

Leaves of Populus lasiocarpa

• Populus section Tacamahaca - balsam poplars. The balsam poplars Populus sect Tacamahaca are a group of about 10 species of Poplars indigenous to North America and eastern Asia North America, Asia; cool temperate
  • Populus angustifolia - Willow-leaved Poplar or Narrowleaf Cottonwood. Populus angustifolia is a species of Poplar tree known by the common name narrowleaf cottonwood. Central North America.
  • Populus balsamifera - Ontario Balsam Poplar. The Ontario Balsam Poplar, Populus balsamifera is a species of the genus Populus. Northern North America.
  • Populus laurifolia - Laurel-leaf Poplar. Central Asia.
  • Populus maximowiczii - Maximowicz' Poplar. Northeast Asia.
  • Populus simonii - Simon's Poplar. Northeast Asia.
  • Populus szechuanica Northeast Asia. Placed here by nuclear DNA; cpDNA places in sect. Aegiros.
  • Populus trichocarpa - Western Balsam Poplar or Black Cottonwood. Populus trichocarpa ( black cottonwood; also known as western balsam poplar or California poplar) is a Tree species native to Western North America.
  • Populus tristis - Northeast Asia. Placed here by nuclear DNA; cpDNA places in sect. Aegiros.

• Populus section Leucoides - necklace poplars or bigleaf poplars. Eastern North America, eastern Asia; warm temperate
  • Populus heterophylla - Swamp Cottonwood. Southeastern North America.
  • Populus lasiocarpa - Chinese Necklace Poplar. Eastern Asia.
  • Populus wilsonii - Wilson's Poplar. Eastern Asia.

• Populus section Turanga - subtropical poplars. Southwest Asia, east Africa; subtropical to tropical
  • Populus euphratica - Euphrates Poplar. Southwest Asia.
  • Populus ilicifolia - Tana River Poplar. Populus ilicifolia ( Tana River Poplar) is a species of Poplar in the family Salicaceae. East Africa.

• Populus section Abaso - Mexican poplars. Mexico; subtropical to tropical
  • Populus guzmanantlensis Mexico. Populus guzmanantlensis is a species of Plant in the Salicaceae family
  • Populus mexicana - Mexico Poplar. Mexico.

In the September 2006 issue of Science, it was announced that Populus trichocarpa was the first tree to have its full DNA code sequenced. Science is the Academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is considered one of the world's most prestigious Scientific Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is a Nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known ^[7]

Cultivation and uses

A fastigiate Black Poplar cultivar of the Plantierensis Group, in Hungary. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic

Many poplars are grown as ornamental trees, with numerous cultivars selected. Ornamental plants are typically grown in the flower Garden or as House plants Most commonly they are grown for the display of their Flowers Other common A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar They have the advantage of growing very big very fast. Trees with fastigiate (erect, columnar) branching are particularly popular, and very widely grown across Europe and southwest Asia in particular. However, like willows, poplars have very vigorous and invasive root systems stretching up to 40 m from the trees; planting close to houses or ceramic water pipes may result in damaged foundations and cracked walls and pipes due to their search for moisture.

Fast-growing hybrid poplars are grown on plantations in many areas for pulpwood and used for the manufacture of paper. In Biology, hybrid has two meanings The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa. Fundamentally a plantation is usually a large Farm or estate, especially in a tropical or semitropical country on which Cotton, Tobacco Pulpwood refers to Timber grown with the principal purpose of making Wood pulp for Paper production Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging ^[8] The wood is generally white, often with a slightly yellowish cast. It is also sold as inexpensive hardwood timber, used for pallets and cheap plywood; more specialised uses include matches and the boxes in which camembert cheese is sold. Lumber or timber is Wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural Material for Construction, or A pallet (ˈpæːlɨt (sometimes called a skid) is a flat transport structure that supports goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by a Forklift, Pallet Plywood is a type of Engineered board made from thin sheets of Wood, called plies or veneers A match is a consumable Tool for lighting a Fire under controlled circumstances on demand Camembert is a soft creamy French Cheese. It was first made in the late 18th century in Normandy in northwestern France. Poplar wood is widely used in the snowboard industry for the snowboard "core", because it has exceptional flexibility. A snowboard is a thin hourglass shaped board ridden down a sloped section of earth covered in snow

Poplar was the most common wood used in Italy for panel paintings; the Mona Lisa and indeed most famous early renaissance Italian paintings are on poplar. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest A panel painting is a Painting on a panel made of wood either a single piece or a number of pieces joined together Mona Lisa (also known as La Gioconda) is a 16th century portrait painted in oil on a Poplar panel by

Due to its tannic acid content, the bark has been used in Europe for tanning leather. Tannic acid, a commercial form of Tannin, is a Polyphenol. Its weak acidity ( pKa around 10 is due to these Phenol groups in ^[3]

There has been some interest in using poplar as an energy crop for biofuel, particularly in light of its high energy in - energy out ratio, large carbon mitigation potential and fast growth. An energy crop is a Plant grown as a low cost and low maintenance Harvest used to make Biofuels or directly exploited for its energy content

Poplar wood also, particularly when seasoned, makes a good hearth for a bow drill. The bow drill is an ancient Tool. While it was usually used to make Fire, it was also used for primitive Woodworking and Dentistry. It was picked as the material for the bones of "Buster", the crash test dummy used in the TV show MythBusters, after some experiments revealed that it fractures under approximately the same loads as human bone. MythBusters is a Popular science Television program produced by Australian firm Beyond Television Productions originally for the Poplar is sometimes used in the bodies of electric guitars and drums. An electric guitar is a type of Guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current which is made louder The drum is a member of the percussion group technically classified as a Membranophone.

A folk tradition noted among Michigan miners in the early 20th century asserted that poplar wood was used to make the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Jesus of Nazareth (7–2 BC / BCE —26–36 AD / CE) ^[9]

References