Populus trichocarpa

Western balsam poplar (Populus trichocarpa )

The Western balsam poplar (Populus trichocarpa ) is a plant of the genus poplar trees in the family of the willow family ( Salicaceae ).

Dissemination

The Western balsam poplar is native to California in western North America from Alaska. In Germany it is common, especially as street or park tree, planted.

Description

The Western balsam poplar is a tree reaching heights of growth of up to 35 meters. The canopy of young trees is narrow, cone- shaped. In older trees, the crown acts broom-like, since virtually all branches are almost vertical. The bark of the branches is yellowish at first, later glossy reddish. The approximately 3 cm long, pointed terminal bud is shiny reddish-brown; the lateral buds are only 1 cm long and brown; they are something clung to the branch. The shoot starts early in April; the dehiscent buds then release a strong balsam scent, which the tree derives its name.

The leaves are oblong to broadly ovate, 10 to 30 cm long. They are thick and finely notched at the edge. On the top they are dark green; the underside is whitish and along the leaf veins often reddish brown. The autumn color is yellow at first and later light brown; the undersides remain long whitish and place in the autumn coloring a beautiful contrast.

Like almost all other species of poplar also is the Western balsam poplar dioecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ). In early April, before the leaves emerge forming long crimson, about 8 cm long catkins on the male trees. The female flowers are green and are loose; in May the weißwolligen seeds are released.

The Western balsam poplar is also in Central Europe very fast-growing tree; Annual growth of two meters are not uncommon.

Since 1944 she is also planted in Iceland - the first time the Court Múlakot the community Fljótshlíð, now part of the rural municipality in the district Rangárþing eystra Rangárvallasýsla. Today, this forest along with some zuerworbenem country around it to a National Forest ( Isl: þjóðarskógur ) South Iceland, region Suðurland become. It was then planted in other regions of Iceland, especially in Eyjafjörður and spreads there since then Naturversamung.

Genomics

The genome of the Western balsam poplar is relatively small with the size of just over 500 million base pairs compared with other tree species; Pines have about an approximately 50 times larger genome. This means that the Western Balsam Poplar is ideal as a study object for the genetics and genomics of wood plants. It was the first species sequenced completely; its genome is only four times larger than that of the first completely sequenced plant thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana ).

Swell

• Alan Mitchell, translated and edited by Gerd Krüssmann: The forest and park trees in Europe: a field guide for dendrologists and nature lovers. Paul Parey, Hamburg and Berlin, 1975, ISBN 3-490-05918-2.