MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



ASPEN (American) (Populus tremuloides Michx.) 



THE Aspen is a rapid-growing tree common to all 

 parts of Massachusetts, thriving in many soils and 

 situations but preferring a moist, somewhat sandy soil. 

 It is frequently the first tree to take possession where 

 forests have been burned or cut off. 



Here it is a small, graceful tree, seldom exceeding 

 a height of thirty to forty feet and a diameter of eight 

 to fifteen inches. The branches are slender, extend at 

 right angles to the stem, are slightly pendulous toward 

 the ends and form a narrow, round head. 



The bark is smooth and pale green, marked with 

 patches of dark brown. On the old trunk it is ash- 

 gray, although at the base of the tree it is almost 



AMERICAN ASPEN 

 Leaves and flowers ; i staminate, 2 pistillate. One-third natural size. 



black and conspicuously ridged. The bark is very 

 bitter and has a taste similar to that of quinine. 



The leaves are simple, alternate, roundish, about 

 two inches in length, finely toothed, and dark green 

 and lustrous on the upper surface. The leaf stalk is 

 flattened at right angles to the blade of the leaf. 



The flowers are in catkins and appear in April before 

 the leaves. 



The wood is soft, weak and very perishable when 

 exposed to the weather. It is of little value although 

 it is used to a certain extent in the making of paper 

 pulp, box -boards and occasionally for fuel. 



