Editing Populus alba

{{Short description|Species of plant of the genus Populus}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = White poplar
| image = Populus alba 001.JPG
| image_caption = 
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author1=Rivers, M.C. |author2=Mark, J. |author3=Khela, S. |name-list-style=amp |title=''Populus alba'' |page=e.T203464A68106850 |year=2017 |access-date=10 May 2024}}</ref>
| genus = Populus
| parent = Populus sect. Populus
| species = alba
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]<ref name=POWO>{{cite POWO |title=''Populus alba'' |id=776573-1 |access-date=10 May 2024}}</ref>
| range_map = Populus alba range.svg
| range_map_caption = Native range
| synonyms =
  {{Species list | hidden=yes
  | Leuce alba | (L.) Opiz
  | Populus aegyptiaca | W.Baxter
  | Populus arbeel | Curtis
  | Populus arembergiana | Dippel
  | Populus arembergica | Lodd. ex Loudon
  | Populus bachofenii | Wierzb. ex Rchb.
  | Populus belgica | Lodd. ex Loudon
  | Populus berkarensis | Poljakov
  | Populus bolleana | Lauche
  | Populus caspica | (Bornm.) Bornm.
  | Populus denudata | A.Braun
  | Populus excelsa | Salisb.
  | Populus grisea | Lodd. ex Loudon
  | Populus hickeliana | Dode
  | Populus hybrida | M.Bieb.
  | Populus hyrcana | Grossh.
  | Populus intermedia | Mert. ex Loudon
  | Populus major | Mill.
  | Populus morisetiana | Dode
  | Populus nivea | (Aiton) Willd.
  | Populus paletskyana | Dode
  | Populus palmata | Loudon
  | Populus pseudonivea | Grossh.
  | Populus quercifolia | Loudon
  | Populus subintegerrima | (Lange) Sennen & Mauricio
  | Populus triloba | Dode
  | Populus viminalis | Poir.
  }}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=POWO/>
}}

'''''Populus alba''''', commonly called '''silver poplar''',<ref name=GRIN>{{GRIN|29358|''Populus alba''}}</ref><ref name=Webb>Webb, C. J.; Sykes, W. R.; Garnock-Jones, P. J. 1988: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. IV. Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. 4. Christchurch, New Zealand, Botany Division, D.S.I.R.</ref> '''silverleaf poplar''',<ref name=GRIN /><ref name=Webb /> '''white poplar''',<ref name="GRIN" /><ref name="Webb" /> or '''abele''' is a species of [[Populus|poplar]], most closely related to the [[aspen]]s (''Populus'' sect. ''Populus''). It is native to a region spanning from the [[Atlas Mountains]] of Africa, through most of South and Central Europe, into Central Asia; it has been introduced to many temperate, moist regions worldwide. It grows in moist sites, often by watersides, in regions with hot summers and cold to mild winters.<ref name=fe>Flora Europaea: [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Populus&SPECIES_XREF=alba&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= ''Populus alba'']</ref><ref name=rushforth>Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and Europe''. Collins {{ISBN|0-00-220013-9}}.</ref>

== Description ==
It is a medium-sized [[deciduous]] [[tree]], growing to heights of up to {{cvt|15|–|30|m}} (rarely more), with a trunk up to {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter and a broad, rounded crown. The [[Bark (botany)|bark]] is smooth and greenish-white to greyish-white with characteristic diamond-shaped dark marks on young trees, becoming blackish and fissured at the base of old trees. The young shoots are covered with whitish-grey down, including the small buds. The [[leaf|leaves]] are {{convert|4|–|15|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} long, five-lobed, with a thick covering of white scurfy down on both sides, but thicker underneath; this layer wears off {{convert|8|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} long, produced in early spring; they are [[plant sexuality|dioecious]], with male and female catkins on separate trees; the male catkins are grey with conspicuous dark red stamens, the female catkins are greyish-green. The female catkins lengthen to {{convert|8|–|10|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} after pollination, with several green seed capsules, maturing in late spring to early summer. It also propagates by means of [[Basal shoot|root suckers]] growing from the lateral roots, often as far as {{convert|20|–|30|m|ft|round=5|abbr=on}} from the trunk, to form extensive [[clonal colony|clonal colonies]].<ref name=rushforth /><ref name=fnwe>Flora of NW Europe: [http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=2198 ''Populus alba''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827110425/http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=2198 |date=2010-08-27 }}</ref>
{{multiple image
 | align     = left
 | direction = horizontal
 | header_align = center
 | header    = Distinguishing features of the white poplar
 | image1    = Populus alba branch.jpg
 | alt1      = 
 | caption1  = Foliage of the white poplar
 | image2    = Populus alba leaf.jpg
 | alt2      = 
 | caption2  = White poplar leaves; underside left, upper side right
 | image3    = Populus alba trunk.jpg
 | alt3      = 
 | caption3  = Trunk, showing the characteristic diamond-shaped marks
 }}
{{Clear}}

== Hybridization ==
[[File:Lisboa June 2014-10.jpg|thumb|200px|Alley of grey poplars]]
White poplar hybridizes with the closely related common aspen ''[[Populus tremula]]''; the resulting [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]], known as grey poplar (''[[Populus × canescens]]''), is intermediate between its parents, with a thin, grey, downy coating on the leaves, which are also much less deeply lobed than white poplar leaves. It exhibits marked [[hybrid vigour]], reaching {{convert|40|m|ft|round=5|abbr=on}} tall and a trunk diameter over {{convert|1.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, much larger than either of its parents. Most grey poplars in cultivation are male, but female trees occur naturally and some of these are also propagated.<ref name=rushforth />

== Cultivation and uses ==
[[File:PopulusAblaPyramidalis.jpg|right|thumb|''Populus alba'' Pyramidalis]]
[[File:Poplar-lined road, Khotan.jpg|thumb|Poplar-lined road between [[Yarkand]] and [[Kargilik Town|Kargilik]]]]
[[File:Populus alba_coupe_MHNT.jpg|thumb|''Populus alba'' - wood]]

The wood is soft but close-grained and easy to carve, shrinking very little during seasoning. It has been used for sculpture from Europe to China and the US.<ref>Rösch, Petra, [https://books.google.com/books?id=hFcxBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA179 ''Chinese Wood Sculptures of the 11th to 13th centuries: Images of Water-moon Guanyin in Northern Chinese Temples and Western Collections''], pp. 179-180, 2007, Columbia University Press, {{ISBN|3-8382-5662-X}}, 9783838256627; [https://books.google.com/books?id=QvQT8vc4oikC&pg=PA74]</ref>  The ''[[Penitent Magdalene (Donatello)|Penitent Magdalene]]'' by [[Donatello]] is one 15th-century example.

It was the most commonly used wood for [[panel painting]]s in Italy throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, until mostly replaced as a matrix by [[canvas]] from 1500 onwards.  Most earlier [[Italian Renaissance painting]]s are painted on poplar panels, the ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' being but one example.

White poplar requires abundant light and ample moisture, and stands up well to flood water and slightly acidic soils. Its green-and-white leaves make it an effective [[ornamental tree]], but the root suckers may cause problems in some situations. It is very attractive as an open-grown tree in water meadows, and because of its extensive root system and tolerance of salt, is also planted to strengthen coastal [[sand dune]]s.<ref name=vedel>Vedel, H., & Lange, J. (1960). ''Trees and Bushes in Wood and Hedgerow''. Metheun & Co. Ltd., London.</ref>

A yellow dye is produced from the bark of the white poplar.<ref>{{cite book |author-last=Polunin |first=O. |author-link=Oleg Polunin |title=Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|date=1969 |language=en|isbn=0192176218 }}, s.v. Populus alba</ref>

The majority of white poplars in cultivation in northern Europe are female trees.<ref name=fnwe />

===Americas===
White poplar was first introduced to North America in 1748 and has a long history in cultivation. It is now found in 43 states throughout the contiguous U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/poal1.htm |title=PCA Alien Plant Working Group – White Poplar (Populus alba) |publisher=Nps.gov |date=2009-07-07 |access-date=2011-07-16 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629071934/http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/poal1.htm |archive-date=2011-06-29 }}</ref> It has come to be considered weedy or [[Invasive species|invasive]]; it has been banned in Connecticut and is the most common introduced tree species on [[Cape Breton Island]].<ref name=Keeler>Keeler, H. L. (1900). ''Our Native Trees and How to Identify Them'' pp. 428–432. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=POAL7 |title=PLANTS Profile for Populus alba (white poplar) &#124; USDA PLANTS |publisher=Plants.usda.gov |date=1999-10-19 |access-date=2011-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015145630/http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=POAL7|archive-date=2010-10-15 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.invasive.org/browse/subject.cfm?sub=3066 |title=white poplar, Populus alba (Salicales: Salicaceae) |publisher=Invasive.org |date=2010-05-04 |access-date=2011-07-16}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091025120827/http://www.nps.gov/plants/ALIEN/map/poal1.htm US invasive state location map]</ref>

In US intensive forest management, it is being replaced by various [[Populus sect. Aigeiros|''Populus'' sect. ''Aigeiros'']] [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]]. The wood is soft, and used for cellulose and to make cheap boxes.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

It also grows in the temperate zones of South America. Mainly in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}  A conical [[cultivar]] from [[Turkestan]], ''Populus alba'' 'Pyramidalis' (Bolle's poplar; syn. ''P. bolleana'') is sometimes planted in parks.<ref name=rushforth />

== History ==
An [[Old English]] name ''abele'', now not used, is derived from the [[Latin]] ''albellus'', white, by way of [[Old French]] ''aubel'' and [[Low German]] name ''abeel''.<ref name=vedel />

[[Leuce (mythology)|Leuce/Leuka]], the "White Poplar"; Leuce or Leuka (Ancient Greek: Λεύκη) ("White" or specifically "White Poplar") was the most beautiful of the nymphs and an [[Oceanid]], a daughter of Oceanus. Hades fell in love with her and abducted her to the underworld. She lived out the span of her life in his realm, and when she died, the god sought consolation by creating a suitable memorial of their love: In the [[Elysium|Elysian Fields]], where the pious spend their afterlives, he brought forth a white tree into existence from her body, which became sacred for him from that moment on.  In Ancient Greco-Roman mythology, it is a symbol of a peaceful afterlife and a memory of those we love who have died, and in the [[language of flowers]], its meaning is "time".{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}   Herakles crowned himself with this tree to celebrate his return from the underworld.

According to ancient Roman mythology, the white poplar was consecrated to [[Hercules]] because he destroyed [[Cacus]] in a cavern adjoining the [[Aventine Hill]], which was covered with these trees;  in the moment of his triumph, he bound his brows with a branch of white poplar as a token of his victory.  Persons offering sacrifices to Hercules were always crowned with branches of this tree, and all who had gloriously conquered their enemies in battle wore garlands of it, in imitation of Hercules. [[Homer]] in ''[[Iliad]]'' compares the fall of [[Simoisius]] when killed by [[Ajax the Great|Ajax]] to that of a poplar.  {{blockquote|So falls a poplar that on watery ground<br />
Raised high its head with stately branches crowned.}}

[[Ovid]] mentions that Paris had carved the name of Ænone on a poplar, as [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] has [[Martext|Orlando]] carve the name of [[Martext|Rosalind]] upon the trees of the forest of [[Arden, Warwickshire|Arden]].

[[Virgil]] gives directions for the culture of this tree and [[Horace]] speaks of the white poplar as delighting to grow on the banks of rivers.<ref name=Keeler />

== Invasive potential ==
The white poplar is an invasive species in many parts of [[Australia]]. In [[Western Australia]], it has formed dense stands in disturbed [[wetlands]] from [[Perth]] to [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]] and it is considered a threat to [[riparian]] vegetation in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]. It has spread along the [[Murrumbidgee River]] and in wet areas in rural parts of the [[Australian Capital Territory]].<ref name=weedy>{{cite web|title=White Poplar|url=http://www.weedyconnection.com/database/white_poplar.html|website=Weedy Connection|access-date=2015-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913003657/http://www.weedyconnection.com/database/white_poplar.html|archive-date=2012-09-13 }}</ref> Despite that, it is still sold in nurseries around Australia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Poplar Tree Listing|url=http://www.smalltreefarm.com.au/Poplar-Tree.html|website=Small Tree Farm|access-date=2015-10-18}}</ref> White poplar is also an environmental weed in [[South Africa]].<ref name=weedy />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|Populus alba}}
* [http://www.carolinanature.com/trees/poal.html Leaf and bark photos]
* [http://www.hainaultforest.co.uk/5Grey%20poplar.htm Tree identification]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717093913/http://www.treetrees.com/white_poplar.htm Images, diseases, galls and fungi on treetrees.com]
* [http://www.euforgen.org/species/populus-alba/ ''Populus alba''] - information, genetic conservation units and related resources. [[European Forest Genetic Resources Programme]] (EUFORGEN)

{{Taxonbar|from=Q146269}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populus|alba]]
[[Category:Flora of temperate Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of North Africa]]
[[Category:Trees of Europe]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Symbols of Hades]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]
[[Category:Plant dyes]]