Fifty Common Trees of New York 



21 



12. TREMBLING ASPEN 

 Popple, Small-toothed Aspen 



(Populus tremuloides Michaux) 

 Trembling aspen is the most widely distributed tree in North Amer- 

 ica. It is common in most sections of New York State but is infrequent 

 on the pine barrens of Long Island. It is to be classed as a short-lived 



Twig, 

 natural 

 bize 



TREMBLING ASPEN 

 natural size ; leaf, one-half 

 size ; pistillate flower, natural 



"weed" tree,, but has some value as a cover tree in slashes, burns, and in 

 old fields where it quickly establishes itself. The wood is soft, weak, not 

 durable, light brown to white in color, and is used primarily in the 

 manufacture of mechanical pulp and excelsior. 



Bark — on young trunks and branches yellowish green to whitish in 

 color, on old trunks roughened with broad, flat, blackish ridges. 



Twigs — smooth, shiny, reddish brown in color. 



Winter buds — terminal bud ^4 inch long, narrow, conical, often in- 

 curved, sharp-pointed, shiny, reddish brown in color ; lateral buds smaller. 



Leaves — alternate, simple, from iy 2 to 3 inches in width, nearly 

 round, finely serrate margins, with flattened stems which allow the 

 slightest breeze to flutter the leaves, from which the name, "trembling 

 aspen," is derived. 



Fruit — a scattered cluster of small, curved capsules, maturing in early 

 spring. Seeds — within capsule, each with a tuft of hairs, carried long 

 distances by the wind when capsule breaks open. This explains vdiy the 

 aspens spring up so quickly after fires on burned-over areas and in aban- 

 doned fields. 



