populus tremula
{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Distinguish|text=Populus tremuloides, the American aspen, also called trembling aspen and quaking aspen}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = PopulusTremula001.JPG
|status = LC
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|genus = Populus
|parent = Populus sect. Populus
|species = tremula
|authority = L.
|range_map = Populus tremula range.svg
|range_map_caption = Distribution map
}}
Populus tremula (commonly called aspen, common aspen, Eurasian aspen, European aspen, or quaking aspen){{cite book|editor=Benkeblia, Noureddine|title=Omics Technologies and Crop Improvement|publisher=CRC Press|year=2015|page=50|isbn=978-1-4665-8669-7}} is a species of poplar native to cool temperate regions of the Old World.
Description
It is a substantial deciduous tree growing to {{convert|40|m}} tall by {{convert|10|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} broad, with a trunk attaining over {{convert|1|m}} in diameter.{{citation|author=Wühlisch, G.|title=Eurasian aspen - Populus tremula: Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use|date=2009|page=6 p|url=http://www.euforgen.org/fileadmin//templates/euforgen.org/upload/Publications/Technical_guidelines/Technical_guidelines_Populus_tremula.pdf|publisher=European Forest Genetic Resources Programme}} The bark is pale greenish-grey and smooth on young trees with dark grey diamond-shaped lenticels, becoming dark grey and fissured on older trees.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
The adult leaves, produced on branches of mature trees, are nearly round, slightly wider than long, {{convert|2|–|8|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} diameter, with a coarsely toothed margin and a laterally flattened petiole {{convert|4|-|8|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long. The flat petiole allows them to tremble in even slight breezes, and is the source of its scientific name, as well as one of its vernacular names "langues de femmes" attributed to Gerard's 17th-century Herball. The leaves on seedlings and fast-growing stems of suckers (root sprouts) are of a different shape, heart-shaped to nearly triangular.{{cite book |first=Clive |last=Stace |year=2010 |title=New Flora of the British Isles |edition=3rd |location=Cambridge, UK |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-70772-5 |page=314}} They are also often much larger, up to {{convert|20|cm}} long; their petiole is also less flattened.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins produced in early spring before the new leaves appear; they are dioecious, with male and female catkins on different trees. The male catkins are patterned green and brown, {{convert|5|–|10|cm}} long when shedding pollen; the female catkins are green, {{convert|2|-|6|cm}} long at pollination, maturing in early summer to bear 10–20 (50–80) capsules each containing numerous tiny seeds embedded in downy fluff. The fluff assists wind dispersal of the seeds when the capsules split open at maturity.Trees for Life Species Profile: [http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.aspen.html Aspen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226111549/http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.aspen.html |date=2014-02-26 }}Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins {{ISBN|0-00-220013-9}}.
It can be distinguished from the closely related North American Populus tremuloides, which is nearly identical, by the leaves being more coarsely toothed.
Like other aspens, it spreads extensively by suckers (root sprouts), which may be produced up to 40 m from the parent tree, forming extensive clonal colonies. This often makes the job of clearing unwanted trees from an area especially difficult, as new suckers will continue to sprout from the extensive root system for up to several years after all surface growth has been eliminated.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to Europe and Asia, from Iceland{{cite web |title=Blæösp (Populus tremula) Vísindavefurinn |url=http://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=6749}} and the British IslesJames Kilkelly {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170814032145/http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about664.html Irish native Aspen tree]}} east to Kamchatka, north to inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and northern Russia, and south to central Spain, Turkey, the Tian Shan, North Korea, and northern Japan. It also occurs at one site in northwest Africa in Algeria. In the south of its range, it occurs at high altitudes in mountains.Den Virtuella Floran: [http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/salica/popul/poputre.html Populus tremula (in Swedish; with maps)]
Ecology
File:Arctic-Norway-aspen-Ofotfjord.jpg
Eurasian aspen is a water and light demanding species that is able to vigorously colonize an open area after fire, clear cutting or other kinds of damage. After an individual has been damaged or destroyed, root suckers are produced abundantly on the shallow lateral roots. Fast growth continues until the age of about 20 years, when crown competition increases. After that, growth speed decreases and culminates at about 30 years of age. Aspen can reach an age of 200 years.
It is a very hardy species and tolerates long, cold winters and short summers.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Aspen is resistant to browsing pressure by fallow deer owing to its unpleasant taste.Rackham, Oliver (1994). The Illustrated History of the Countryside. London : BCA. CN 2922.p. 64.
This species is important for the hornet moth, which uses it as a host during the larval stage.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Fossil record
Fossils of Populus tremula have been described from the fossil flora of Kızılcahamam district in Turkey which is of early Pliocene age.{{cite journal |last1=Kasaplıgil |first1=Baki |title=Ankara, Kızılcahamam yakınındaki Güvem köyü civarında bulunan son tersiyer kozalaklı-yeşil yapraklı ormanı |journal=Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration |date=1977 |volume=88 |pages=94–102 |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/bulletinofmre/issue/3914/52153 |publisher=General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration |location=Ankara |language=tr, en |format=PDF |trans-title=A Late-Tertiary Conifer-Hardwood Forest From the Vicinity of Güvem Village, Near Kızılcahamam, Ankara}}
Cultivation
The aspen is found in cultivation in parks and large gardens.{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Populus tremula|url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1508|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130423193013/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1508|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 April 2013|access-date=24 April 2019}} The fastigiate cultivar 'Erecta', with bright yellow autumn colouring, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/94236/i-Populus-tremula-i-Erecta/Details|title=RHS Plantfinder - Populus tremula 'Erecta'|access-date =24 April 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf|title=AGM Plants - Ornamental|date=July 2017|page=81|publisher=Royal Horticultural Society}} The cultivar is colloquially known as "Swedish columnar" in Canada and the United States.{{cite web |url=https://www.calgaryplants.com/products/populus-swedish-columnar-aspen|title=Aspen - Swedish Columnar|access-date=24 September 2020}}
The hybrid with Populus alba (white poplar), known as grey poplar, Populus × canescens, is widely found in Europe and central Asia. Hybrids with several other aspens have also been bred at forestry research institutes in order to find trees with greater timber production and disease resistance (e.g. P. tremula × P. tremuloides, bred in DenmarkJensen, N. (1994). Guide til Arboretet i Hørsholm (in Danish).).
Use
The wood of aspen is light and soft with very little shrinkage. It is used for lumber and matches but is also valued in the pulp and paper industry, being particularly useful for writing paper. In addition, it is used for plywood and different types of flake and particle boards. Given its hardiness and capacity for rapid growth and regeneration, it plays an important role in the production of wood for renewable energy. Ecologically, the species is important as many insect and fungi species benefit from it. The tree further provides habitat for several mammals and birds that require young forests.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Populus tremula}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdi-0IArBA Video, commentary and annotation on why Aspen leaves tremble.]
- [http://www.euforgen.org/species/populus-tremula/ Populus tremula] - distribution map, genetic conservation units and related resources. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)
- [https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/aspen/ Populus tremula] - Aspen; info, images and video at [https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ Woodland Trust]
- {{PFAF|Populus tremula}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q146110}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Flora of temperate Asia
Category:Trees of continental subarctic climate
Category:Trees of humid continental climate
Category:Trees of subpolar oceanic climate