WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Stace 4:

Populus alba L. - White Poplar.

Tree to 28m with broad spreading crown, many suckers and smooth grey bark; leaves palmately lobed, densely white-tomentose on lowerside; males very rare; (2n=38, 57). neophyte-naturalised; much planted and often well naturalised from dense sucker growth, especially on coastal dunes; scattered in British Isles, especially in Central and South Britain and Channel Islands, rare in North West Scotland; Europe.

Key:

• Leaves of long-shoots densely tomentose on lowerside, sometimes becoming glabrous late in season
• Leaves of long-shoots distinctly palmately 3-5-lobed; bracts subentire to dentate; trees usually female