What is the latest information on white poplar?
White poplar is also known as white poplar, silver poplar, etc. It is a deciduous tree of the genus Populus in the family Salicaceae. Its characteristics are strong vitality, tall and upright, strong and unwavering, with a spirit of close unity, striving upward, stubbornly standing upright, and indomitable. It has diverse uses and can be used as firewood, for making furniture, as roof purlins and ridgepoles, for making farm tools, etc. Now let us take a look at what information there is about white poplar!
Morphological characteristics of white poplar
White poplar is generally 5-15 m tall, with a broad crown, white trunk, and bark white to grayish white, often rough at the base. Branchlets are covered with white down, and sprouting branches and long branch leaves are broad. The leaf margin has irregular tooth buds, and the petiole is equal to or shorter than the leaf blade, covered with white down. Male inflorescences are 3-6 cm long, bracts about 3 mm long, stamens 8-10 mm, anthers purple-red. Female inflorescences are 5-10 cm long, pistils have short stalks, and stigmas are 2-lobed. Capsules are conical, about 5 mm long, hairless, and 2-valved. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is May-June.
Living environment of white poplar
White poplar is an ordinary tree in the northwest region. Wherever there is grass, there is the shadow of white poplar. It is not very particular about living conditions. Along roadsides and beside field ridges, wherever there is yellow earth, that is where it survives. It does not seek rainwater or cling to sunlight. Even on hard land, as long as it is given a little moisture, a section of white poplar branch will take root and sprout. It only needs to move aside a little space occupied by weeds to decorate the yellow earth and hold up a patch of green. It does not need people to fertilize it, nor does it need to be irrigated like delicate lawn grass. As long as no one swings a knife or axe to cut it down, and it is given a slightly relaxed environment to absorb free air, it will stand tall and grow upward.
Geographical distribution of white poplar
White poplar is distributed in Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. In China, it is mainly distributed in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Liaoning, Shandong, Henan, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Beijing, Tianjin, and other places. There is also a small amount distributed in the southwest region, such as Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangxi, Yunnan, and other places.
Growth habits of white poplar
White poplar likes light and is not shade-tolerant. It is resistant to severe cold, with no frost damage at minus 40 degrees. It tolerates arid climates but not humid heat. Cultivation in the south is prone to pests and diseases, and the trunk is often curved and shrub-like. It tolerates poor light alkaline soil and soil with a salt content below 0.4%, but grows poorly in heavy clay soil. It has a deep root system, well-developed roots, strong soil-fixing ability, and strong root sprouting. It has strong wind resistance and resistance to pests and diseases. Its lifespan reaches more than 90 years.
Cultivation value of white poplar
White poplar has strong adaptability, a tall tree form, and silver-white leaves that sway in the breeze and have a special shimmering effect under sunlight. Its appearance is upright and clean, and it has a certain ornamental value. It can be used as a shade tree or street tree, planted in clumps on lawns, and can also be used as a tree species for sand fixation, soil conservation, rock and embankment protection, and afforestation of barren sand. In addition, it also has medicinal value. The extract from white poplar (containing salicylic acid) can relieve pain and fever. White poplar bark has the effects of dispelling wind, promoting blood circulation, and reducing phlegm. It treats wind arthralgia, beriberi, blood stasis from falls and injuries, dysentery during pregnancy, toothache, mouth sores, and other conditions.