What is the latest tree of Chinese white poplar?

Populus tomentosa is a deciduous tree belonging to poplar family of willow family. It grows fast, its trunk is straight and upright, its adaptability is strong, its taproot and lateral root are developed, its branches and leaves are dense, and it is a good tree species for fast-growing timber forest, shelterbelt and greening of roads and canals. The female plants are most common in the middle of Henan Province, followed by Shandong Province and few in other areas.

Populus tomentosa up to 30 meters, bark dark gray when young, gray green when strong, gradually gray white, black gray when old. Lateral branches open, male plants inclined, old branches droop. Branchlets (shoots) initially grayish, then smooth. Buds ovate, flower buds ovoid or subglobose, minutely felted. Long branches broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, apex shortly acuminate, base cordate or truncate, margin deeply dentate or undulate dentate. Petiole laterally compressed distally, short branches. Leaves usually smaller, ovate or triangular-ovate, slightly shorter than leaf blade, apex without glandular dots.

The male inflorescence of Populus tomentosa is 10~14 cm long, the male bract has about 10 pointed ends, densely hairy, stamens 6~12, anthers red. Female inflorescences 4 - 7 cm long, bracts brown, apiculate, hairy along margin. Ovary long elliptic, stigma 2-lobed, pink. Infructescences up to 14 cm long. Capsule conical or long ovate, 2-valved. Flowering in March, fruiting in April ~ May.

Populus tomentosa likes to be born in mild plain areas below 1500 meters above sea level. It has deep roots and strong drought tolerance. It can grow on clay, loam, sandy soil or low wet mild saline soil. It grows fastest in places with sufficient water and fertilizer conditions. It can become mature at 20 years old. It is one of the fast-growing tree species in China.

Populus tomentosa wood white, texture straight, high fiber content, easy to dry, easy to process, paint and cementation performance is good, can be used for construction, furniture, box board and matchstick, paper and other materials, is the raw material of artificial fiber. Good material, fast growth, long life, drought and salt tolerance, magnificent tree posture, beautiful crown shape, for the masses everywhere like to plant fine garden greening or street trees, but also for fast-growing timber afforestation trees in North China.