Slide 1
SALICACEAE
The Willow Family
Slide 2
Family Characteristics
Simple, alternate leaves
Apetalous dioecious catkins
Woody species
Many with medicinal properties
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SALICACEAE
Willow Family
Members of the SALICACEAE family include:
Willow (Salix) - have 1 bud scale and
Poplar (Populus)- have many bud scales
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https://doorcountypulse.com/pussy-willows/
Willow Poplar
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/shrub/meadow-willow
https://tanglewoodsoap.ca/blogs/news/131019207-soothing-local-wildcrafted-late-winter-poplar-bud-for-soap-salves-lotions-and-more
Slide 5
Poplars in general
Will vary in height and shape
Fast growing - not long lived compared to other trees
Bark - smooth and white to off white when young with prominent lenticels
Older bark varies( some smooth, some rough)
Leaves vary in shape but are…..
Simple
Long petioled (often laterally flattened)Often with a thick epidermis
Flowers - dioecious, catkins
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Poplar Winter Key:
Buds and upper twigs downy-pubescent - white tomentose
Spreading or rounded tree: ……………………………………………………………………………………………...P. alba
Slender, columnar tree:......................................................................................................................... P. alba pyramidalis
Buds and twigs not pubescent or tomentose
Mature bark whitish-gray; trees slender but not columnar:........................................................... P. tremuloides
Mature bark not whitish gray
Trees very slender columnar…………………………………………………………………………………... P. nigra italica
Trees narrow to spreading but not columnar
One year twigs gray-green to yellow gray
Bark remaining gray-green to yellow gray and smooth except at base of tree: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….P x canadensis
Bark on 2 and 3 year twigs distinctly darker gray; mature bark ridged and gray: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..P. deltoides
One year twigs red-brown to orange-brown
Bark on older trunks furrowed and ashy-gray:................................................. P x “Northwest”
Bark on older trunks smooth to shallowly furrowed: ………………...………..P. balsamifera
Slide 7
http://www.greeningcanadianlandscape.ca/tree-species-selector/central-canada-tree-species/tree-species-selector-alberta/~3169-Populus-balsamifera
Populus x jackii ‘Northwest’
Populus tremuloides
Populus balsamifera
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After keying the wood, compare the leaves…
Slide 9
and the shape
https://www.naturalmedicinefacts.info/plant/populus-balsamifera.html
Northwest Poplar
Trembling Aspen
Balsam Poplar
Slide 10
SALICACEAE
Populus balsamifera
Balsam Poplar
Slide 11
Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
Origin - native to Alberta
Hardiness - yes, veryEnvironment: full sun, moist, rich soils
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Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
Form: Narrow crown, ascending branches, shallow root systemHeight: 15-18 mSpread: 10 m Rate of growth: fast ( short lived in dry soils - 15 years)
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Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
Leaves: simple, 7-12 cm longthick, shiny green above, white greenbelow
Yellow fall colour
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Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
Buds: pointed, out curved, reddish brown, sticky
Twigs: green brown, triangular leaf scars
Bark: grey or yellowish on upper trunk, grey furrowed on lower trunk
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Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
Flowers: pendulous catkins, dioecious, stamens purple red
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Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
Fruit: small seed,
in tufts of white “hair”
2mm long, 1mm wide
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Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar
Use: shelterbelt, specimen or groupings in large parks Grows fast but short lived
Cultivar: ‘Paskapoo’ - med size 30’ x 20’
Maintenance : suckers, tufted seeds carried by wind in springOften a lot of dieback
will sucker from roots
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SALICACEAE
Populus tremuloides
Trembling Aspen
Slide 19
Populus tremuloides
Trembling Aspen
Origin: native to AlbertaZone 1
Full sun (usually not seen individually in the open in nature)
Soil Conditions: moist well drained loam
Roots will form suckers (groves in moist areas)
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Populus tremuloides
Form: slender, graceful, short rounded crown , shallow roots
Height: 12-15m Spread: 5m
Rapid rate of growth
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Populus tremuloides - Trembling Aspen
Foliage: Simple, 2.5-7.5 cm long,blade flat, dark green colour, margins finely serrate
petiole flat and perpendicular to the blade to catch the breeze, brownish red,
Fall colour: orange gold
Slide 22
Populus tremuloides
Buds: appressed, small acute slightly gummy,
Branches: dark green, glabrous, lenticels oval, evenly distributed on young shoots, leaf scars small, triangular
Bark: greenish white to cream, smooth, often marked with dark wart-like blotches,
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Populus tremuloides
Flowers: pendulous catkins, anthers and stigmas purple
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Populus tremuloides
Landscape Value:
texture, fall colour (great contrast with spruce
Naturalized woodland settings
Maintenance: short lived, surface rooted, requires a good ground cover otherwise dies out, prolific seeder
https://dissolve.com/stock-photo/American-Aspen-Trees-Populus-tremuloides-Autumn-Foliage-royalty-free-image/101-D1282-7-1122
Susceptible to galls and cankers (Hypoxylon canker) Very sensitive to environmental changesWill sucker especially when injured
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SALICACEAE
Populus x jackii ‘Northwest’
Slide 26
Populus x jackii ‘Northwest’
Large tree 25m x 8 m Cross between Populus balsamifera and Populus deltoides.
Male clone
Hardiness Zone 2
Full sun part shade Lots of water, will tolerate drought, side pH
Grows fast
Significant Features …...
Slide 27
https://kiwinurseries.com/product/northwest-poplar/
https://www.thetreecenter.com/your-guide-to-poplar-trees/
Slide 28
Populus x jackii ‘Northwest’
Leaves: simple, broadly ovate, Tip acuminate Base - cordate to acuteMargins - wavy (sinuate)
Flattened petiole
Fall colour - yellow
Roots - up to 4x height of the treeAggressive, will lift asphalt
https://treelib.ca/species/391/populus_x%20jackii
Slide 29
Populus x jackii ‘Northwest’
BarkYoung bark - light gray-almost white(can be brittle)Older bark- deeply fissured
Wide angled crotches
Buds - large, short, wide
Slide 30
Populus x jackii ‘Northwest’
Maintenance - avoid damage to the root systemPrune in late dormancyGood for the prairies - very competitive
Pests and diseasesCankers, - septoria, hypoxylonInsects - forest tent caterpillar, poplar bud gall mite Willow leaf beetle Fall cankerworm Willow sawfly Etc. etc……..
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https://bluegrassnursery.com/product/tower-poplar/
The Columnar Poplars
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The Columnar poplars
The next 2 poplars are similar in many ways. The are both upright and have similar branching habits.
There are a few differences Take a look at the leaves
Swedish columnar aspen has better fall colour. The branches go out and then curve up.
Tower poplar branches are closer to the trunk with a narrower angle. This causes breakage. Tower is more likely to fall open ( branches bend down) than Swedish Columnar Aspen.
Slide 33
SALICACEAE
Populus tremula erecta
Swedish Columnar Aspen
Slide 34
Populus tremula ‘Erecta’ - Swedish Columnar Aspen
Origin: Sweden
Hardiness: Zone 2
Exposure: full sun, part shade
Soil Conditions: wide adaptation
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Populus tremula ‘Erecta’
Form: very tight narrow and upright habit
Height: 15m Spread: 3m
Rate of Growth: moderate to fast
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Populus tremula ‘Erecta’
Foliage: oval to almost round, undulate, 3-8cm long and wide, new growth tomentose, margins crenate.
Petiole flattened, glabrous, as long as the blade
Fall colour: Reddish fall colour
Slide 37
Slide 38
Populus tremula ‘Erecta’
Buds: glutinous
Twigs: totally glabrous, wood soft and white
Bark: smooth, yellowish-gray, older bark channeled and gray.
Wider angled crotches
Slide 39
Populus tremula ‘Erecta’
Flower: catkins, 8-10 cm long, dioecious
Fruit: a small capsule surrounded by copious hairs
Male catkins
https://bgflora.net/families/salicaceae/populus/populus_tremula/populus_tremula_1_en.html
Slide 40
Populus tremula ‘Erecta’
Landscape Use: upright ‘towers’ Provides a strong vertical line
Tall screen, specimen, contrast in form
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Populus tremula ‘Erecta’
MaintenanceRoots not as aggressive as other poplar roots ( can still push up asphalt)
Problems:
Bronze leaf disease Key characteristics are an orange-brown leaf with green midrib)
Poplar borer ( bad in Edmonton 2018-19)Bores into the trunk killing the tree.
https://www.highriveronline.com/local/watch-out-for-bronze-leaf-disease
Slide 42
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - FIA , Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org
https://kentuckylandscape.ca/bored-aspens/
https://www.turfandrec.com/healthy-trees-are-best-defence-against-poplar-borer-7409/
https://www.cityofgp.com/city-services/services/park-space-urban-forestry/local-insect-guide/poplar-borer
Slide 43
SALICACEAE
Populus x canescens ‘Tower’
Tower Poplar
Slide 44
Populus x canescens ‘ Tower’ - Tower Poplar
Origin : hybrid between Populus alba nivea and Populus tremula erecta(Garden origin)
Zone 2
Tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions
Slide 45
Populus x canescens ‘ Tower’ - Tower Poplar
Neat, vigorous very columnar tree
Height : 10-12 m
Spread 3-4m
Moderate to rapid growth
Slide 46
Populus x canescens ‘ Tower’ - Tower Poplar
Leaves: loose gray tomentose on underside of leaves due to its white poplar heritage. Double serrate/dentate margins
http://www.lesplantationsletourneau.com/produit/peuplier-grisard-tower/
Slide 47
Populus x canescens ‘ Tower’ - Tower Poplar
Buds: small and more oblong and round- tipped than most poplars
Twigs: brown and smooth, young shoot gray
Bark: light grey greenSmooth ( similar to P. tremula erecta)
Slide 48
Populus x canescens ‘ Tower’ - Tower Poplar
Flowers and fruit non - descript
Landscape Value very unique columnar form
Specimen, windrow
Maintenance: weak form predisposed to breakage prone to included bark tends to “unravel”
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