Trees of Wisconsin
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Populus grandidentata Michx. big-tooth aspen Family: Salicaceae |
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| Populus
granditata is relatively easy to identify by the large teeth of the
leaves and the buds covered by whitish pubescence. All other Populus
species in Wisconsin have glabrous (hairless) buds. The leaves are simple
alternate and conspicuously covered by dense whitish hairs when they first
open in the spring, and the trees are very easy to identify from a considerable
distance during that brief time. The leaves become glabrous when mature.
The bark of young trunks is similar to the pale greenish white color of
other members of this genus. When the trees reach a large size the older
bark splits repeatedly and becomes furrowed and dark gray. As is the case
with all our trees in the genus Populus, the leaves are bright
yellow in Autumn.
Populus grandidentata ranges from the maritime provinces of Canada to Minnesota, south through Iowa to Tennessee and North Carolina. It is distributed throughout Wisconsin. It begins to flower in April in the Green Bay area, within a few days after Populus tremuloides starts. |
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