Populus balsamifera L.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Salicaceae

• Scientific Name

  Populus balsamifera L.

• Description

  Species Description - Tall tree with dark gray furrowed bark and glabrous or hairy twigs; terminal buds glabrous, viscid; petioles ± terete; lvs resinous, ovate to lance-ovate, acute or short-acuminate, finely serrate or subentire, cuneate to rounded or subcordate at base, glabrous, dark green above, white and glaucous (often streaked with orange resin) beneath; scales of the catkins long- ciliate; stamens 20–30; stigmas 2, nearly sessile, broadly dilated; frs ovoid, 2-valved, 5–8 mm, crowded on short pedicels, forming a compact, spike-like raceme; seeds 15–22 per placenta; 2n=38. Wet woods, river-banks, and shores; Lab. to Alas., s. to Conn., n. Pa., n. Ind., n. Io., Nebr., and Colo. (P. tacamahacca)

• Common Names

  balsam poplar