Thicket/ White Poplar

COMMON NAME: White Poplar

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Silver Leaved Poplar

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Populus alba

FAMILY: Salicaceae

COMMUNITY: Thicket

STATUS: Naturalized (native of Eurasia)

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: to 80 feet

FLOWERING TIME: April

FRUITING TIME:

DISTRIBUTION: Southern Canada and throughout the United Stated ~ Statewide in NJ

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Bark is whitish-gray ~ Branches wide spreading, terminal bud and young twigs are covered with dense matted hairs ~ leaves white also covered with dense matted hairs beneath, palmately 3-7 lobed on long shoots, ovate and irregularly dentate on short ones ~ Stamens 6-10, stigmas 2, deeply cleft, slender thread-like ~ Seeds 1-3 per placenta

GENERAL INFORMATION: This family (Salicaceae) is commonly called the Willow family.  Pollen of the White Poplar is allergenic.  The wood yields dyes.  Members of this family provide valuable wild animal food.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.