Slide 1 SALICACEAE The Willow Family Slide 2 Family Characteristics Simple, alternate leaves Apetalous dioecious catkins Woody species Many with medicinal properties Slide 3 SALICACEAE Willow Family Members of the SALICACEAE family include: Willow (Salix) - have 1 bud scale and Poplar (Populus)- have many bud scales Slide 4 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 Slide 6 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 Slide 8 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 Slide 12 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) Slide 13 Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar Leaves: simple, 7-12 cm longthick, shiny green above, white greenbelow Yellow fall colour Slide 14 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 Slide 15 Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar Flowers: pendulous catkins, dioecious, stamens purple red Slide 16 Populus balsamifera - Balsam Poplar Fruit: small seed, in tufts of white “hair” 2mm long, 1mm wide Slide 17 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 Slide 18 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) Slide 20 Populus tremuloides Form: slender, graceful, short rounded crown , shallow roots Height: 12-15m Spread: 5m Rapid rate of growth Slide 21 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, Slide 23 Populus tremuloides Flowers: pendulous catkins, anthers and stigmas purple Slide 24 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 Slide 25 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…….. Slide 31 https://bluegrassnursery.com/product/tower-poplar/ The Columnar Poplars Slide 32 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 Slide 35 Populus tremula ‘Erecta’ Form: very tight narrow and upright habit Height: 15m Spread: 3m Rate of Growth: moderate to fast Slide 36 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 Slide 41 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” Slide 49