Populus euphratica
Other common names
Indian poplar. Arabic: bahan, bhan, gharab, hodung.
Origin of the species name
Populus is from the Latin name for the poplar; euphratica refers to its occurrence along the west Asian region of the Euphrates River.
Family
Salinaceae
Date planted
August 2011
Lifespan
Trees of this species are very long lived and fossil remains indicate that similar trees were around 60 million years ago.
General description
This is a medium-sized deciduous tree with rarely a straight stem. The bark on old stems is thick, rough and olive green. The leaves are usually broader than long, but can be variable with some looking very much like eucalypt leaves in size, shape and colour. The flowers are on catkins and the fruit are ovoid capsules. The leaves turn a brilliant yellow or orange yellow in autumn. Height 15m Spread 12m.
Natural distribution and habitat
The species is native to Turkey, south to Egypt and across central Asia to China where it is found in subtropical, broadleaved, hill forests, wet temperate, moist temperate deciduous forests and dry temperate forests. It also grows on land that is seasonally flooded.
Conservation status
Although the species is not classified as a threatened species, there are populations throughout its distribution that are being seriously affected by its use and other human disturbance. Over half of the remaining global population is in western China.
Planting pattern
Planted in curved lines following the contours.
Uses
The leaves are used for fodder for sheep, goats and camels. Its wood is moderately hard and light, is easy to saw and works to a good finish. It is used for planking, lacquer work, plywood, cricket bats, matchboxes and splints. Waste wood is used for fuel. Twigs are chewed and used for cleaning teeth.
Populus yunnanensis
Other common names
Gundaroo Yunnan poplar, Chinese poplar.
Origin of the species name
Populus is Latin for poplar; yunnanensis is derived from Latin, meaning 'from Yunnan'
Family
Salicaceae
Date planted
First planted in 2011 with the other poplar species in this forest, Populus euphratica.
General description
This is a fast-growing, medium-sized deciduous tree with either a conical or a wide-spreading crown. The trunk of saplings has an unusual hexagonal cross-section, with marked ridges which gradually disappear as the tree grows. Young branches are red and the bark is initially smooth, then becomes rougher and fissured, and the colour changes to a dark grey-brown. The leaf stalks and veins on new leaves are also red.
The leaves are triangular to ovate, with mildly sinuate (wavy) margins. They are dark glossy green on the upper surface, and a paler greyish green underneath, then turn bright yellow in autumn. Both male and female flowers, which appear on separate trees, are in the form of catkins. The flowers are wind pollinated and the fruit, which is in the form of green capsules, contains small seeds with fine hairs that aid their dispersal by wind.
Natural distribution and habitat
This species is native to the Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces of south-central China. It is found in mountain forests.
Conservation status
This is a hybrid developed at Yarralumla Nursery for use in urban street plantings.
Planting pattern
Planted in curved lines following the contours.
Uses
It is used as a street tree in avenues and in urban parks. It grows well in Canberra as it has a high tolerance of frost (to -10° Celsius), and a high tolerance of both heat and drought. It has also been used for soil conservation, slope stabilisation and the restoration of degraded land.
A Landcare program near Canberra planted Populus yunnanensis in a badly eroded incision in a swampy meadow, which had been caused by grazing and trampling by hoofed animals. The species was chosen because it is fast-growing, can grow in wet areas, is pest-resistant and unpalatable to local wildlife, and the annual leaf fall helps soil development.