Populus euphratica
{{Short description|Species of tree}}
{{Speciesbox
|status = LC
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|image = Tarim Desert Highway - Desert poplars, Xinjiang, China.jpg
|image_caption =
|taxon = Populus euphratica
|authority = Oliv.
|synonyms =
{{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; |
- Balsamiflua euphratica (Olivier) Kimura
- Balsamiflua illicitana (Dode) Kimura
- Populus ariana Dode
- Populus diversifolia Schrenk
- Populus illicitana Dode
- Populus litwinowiana Dode
- Populus transcaucasica Jarm. ex Grossh.
- Turanga ariana Kimura
- Turanga diversifolia Kimura
- Turanga euphratica (Olivier) Kimura
- Turanga litwinowiana (Dode) Kimura
}}
|synonyms_ref = {{citation
|url = http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-5000084
|title = The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species
|access-date = 26 September 2016}}
}}
Populus euphratica, commonly known as the Euphrates poplar,{{cite book |author1=Heptner, V. G. |author2=Sludskij, A. A. |orig-year=1972 |year=1992 |title=Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola |trans-title=Mammals of the Soviet Union. Volume II, Part 2. Carnivora (Hyaenas and Cats) |publisher=Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation |location=Washington DC |url=https://archive.org/stream/mammalsofsov221992gept#page/83/mode/2up |pages=1–732}} desert poplar,{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} diversiform-leaved poplar, or poplar diversifolia,{{cite report |author1=Hugh Cross (report leader), Jeff Ball, Dugald Black, Lee Bowling, Jean Hung, Ary van der Lely, Overseas Projects Corporation of Victoria Limited |title=INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE TARIM BASIN |url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/212421468012932368/pdf/E21120EA0SF1EA10Box338877B01PUBLIC1.pdf |publisher=World Bank |access-date=10 October 2021 |date=July 1999 |issue=E2112}} is a species of poplar tree in the willow family.
Description
File:Populus euphratica kz03.jpg
File:Populus_diversifolia,_Ekhiin-Gol_oazis,_Shinejinst_sum,_Bayankhongor_province,_Mongolia,_Gobi_desert.JPG in the Gobi Desert.]]
The Euphrates poplar is a medium-sized deciduous tree that may grow to a height of about {{convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on}}and a girth of {{convert|2.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} where conditions are favorable. The stem is typically bent and forked; old stems have thick, rough, olive-green bark. While the sapwood is white, the heartwood is red, darkening to almost black at the center. The roots spread widely but not deeply. The leaves are highly variable in shape.
The flowers are borne as catkins; those of the male are {{convert|25|-|50|mm|in|abbr=on}} long, and those of the female {{convert|50|-|70|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The fruits are ovoid-lanceolate capsules, {{convert|7|-|12|mm|in|abbr=on}} long, containing tiny seeds enveloped in silky hairs.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/products/afdbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1335 |title=Populus euphratica |access-date=2013-04-16 |work=Agroforestry Tree Database |publisher=World Agroforestry Centre |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731033029/http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1335 |archive-date=2012-07-31 |url-status=dead }}
Distribution and habitat
The species has a very wide range, occurring naturally from North Africa, across the Middle East and Central Asia to western China. It may be found in dry temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and subtropical dry broadleaf forests at altitudes of up to {{convert|4000|m|mile|abbr=on}} above sea level.
It is a prominent component of Tugay floodplain ecosystems along river valleys in arid and semi-arid regions, mixed with willow, tamarisk and mulberry in dense thickets. It grows well on land that is seasonally flooded and is tolerant of saline and brackish water. Much used as a source of firewood, its forests have largely disappeared or become fragmented over much of its natural range.[http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002204/220466eo.pdf Treshkin, S.Y., S.K. Kamalov, A. Bachiev, N. Mamutov, A.I. Gladishev and I. Aimbetov. 1998. Present status of the tugai forests in the lower Amu-Dar’ya Basin and problems of their protection and restoration. Pages 43-53 in Ecological Research and Monitoring of the Aral Sea Deltas. A Basis for Restoration. UNESCO Aral Sea Project, 1992-1996 Final Scientific Reports, UNESCO, Paris, France.]
Uses
The species is used in agroforestry to provide leaves as fodder for livestock, timber and, potentially, fiber for making paper. It is also used in afforestation programs on saline soils in desert regions, and to create windbreaks and check erosion. The bark is reported to have Anthelmintic properties.
References
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