Populus tremula

Populus tremula

The Aspen (Populus tremula L.) is an arboreal species belonging to the Salicaceae family.

Systematic –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to the Eukaryota Domain, Kingdom Plantae, Magnoliophyta Division, Magnoliopsida Class, Order Salicales, Family Salicaceae and therefore to the genus Populus and to the species P. tremula.

Etymology –
The term Populus comes from the Greek πάλλω pállo to jump, shake, tremble: for the behavior of the leaves under the action of the wind. The specific epithet trembles, because of the leaves that are stirred at the slightest gust of wind because of the long and flat petiole.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The Aspen Poplar is a species native to a region between Europe and Siberia where it is widespread especially in hilly and mountainous areas up to 2,000 m altitude. Outside this area it can also be found in some parts of North Africa. In Italy it is present in the Alps up to a height of 1600 m and on the Apennines up to 1800 m, while in other areas it can also be found a few hundred meters from the sea.

Description –
Populus tremula is a tree that can reach 20 meters in height, with good attitude to pollon and with light green foliage. The straight or sinuous trunk, with a thin, smooth and greenish bark, which with age becomes chapped and becomes greyish. The leaves are deciduous, simple, round or oval, with toothed margin, with the bottom page greyish-green and pubescent and with a very long petiole (6-7 cm) and flattened. It is a dioecious plant with unisexual flowers on different plants. The fruits are capsules that mature by releasing small, feathery seeds.

Cultivation –
The Aspen Poplar is a species that does not reproduce by cuttings but frequently through suckers that form new trees. The Poplar tremolo reproduces more than anything else by seed. As soon as these are harvested, in spring, they must be sown immediately because they quickly lose vitality as for all the salicaeae, covering them for nothing or just the bare minimum. Soon it is necessary to do the repackaging in single vases. The first winter can be made to spend in a cold greenhouse, or already in late summer, if the growth of seedlings is sufficient you can put them back. Otherwise the planting period will be the following late spring.
Reproduction by seed, however, is a problem because the poplars often hybridize with each other, and the seeds do not always give the expected results, which is why the harvest should be done starting from plants that grow in areas without other poplars .
In order to operate vegetative reproduction, it is possible to start from a woody cutting in November-December, or a root cutting in the middle of winter or, through the numerous suckers in spring.
The plant is however extremely easy to grow.
The Aspen Poplar is an ideal species in environments of a certain altitude to realize, for example, windbreak barriers, or for the reforestation of denuded areas or heavy and clayey soils. In this sense, however, we must take into account its lack of tolerance to competition not only at the root level but also above the ground (one of the reasons why it is often found on soils relatively free from vegetation). Its root system, especially in clay soils, tends to seriously damage the drains and foundations, so the plant must be made at an adequate distance from the houses (at least 12 meters). It is a plant that does not last long but grows quickly.

Uses and Traditions –
Populus tremula is a pioneer plant in the colonization of new land and, especially in the Alps and the Apennines, it is used for the consolidation of sloping slopes. In Italy there are currently three varieties known: the dodeana, with very serrated leaves; the australis, with rounded and small leaves and the villosa with leaves that appear young and hairy.
This plant is also used as an ornamental species, in addition, light and light wood finds uses similar to those of other poplars.
As for other poplars, this species can be used, at the pharmacological level, for: diseases of the upper respiratory tract, bruises, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchitis, bronchial and pulmonary catarrh, contusions, digestive and hepatic disorders, urinary disorders, joint pains, hemorrhoids, fever, infected wounds, chilblains, infections and inflammation of the urinary tract, flu, laryngitis, sores, colds, rheumatism, fluid retention, sprains, fatigue, cuts, coughs, ulcers of the skin, to eliminate excess uric acid, for purify the blood.

Preparation Mode –
The parts of the plant and especially the leaves can be used for balsamic baths, balsamic perfumes and in liquor for the discoloration of wines and liqueurs.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Pharmacy of the Lord, Advice and experience with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Publisher
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d’Italia, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (edited by), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only and do not in any way represent a medical prescription; there is therefore no liability for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.