Populus tremula L.

Tree to c. 16 m high, often suckering profusely, widespreading, almost glabrous. Bark greenish or yellowish green, rather smooth, except near base. Shoots dark, slightly hairy at first, slightly angular when young, otherwise terete. Buds not viscid, glabrous. Young lvs not aromatic. Lvs hairy at first, soon glabrous. Petiole 2–7 cm long, strongly flattened. Lamina 2.5–12 × 3–12 cm, broad-ovate to suborbicular, sometimes broader than long, green above and glaucescent or glaucous below; margin without translucent band, coarsely crenate-serrate or crenate-dentate, with teeth often curved; base truncate to subcordate, sometimes with 2 glands; apex acute. Catkins ♂, to 10 cm long, pendulous. Rachis densely hairy. Bracts 2.5–4 mm long excluding oblong to triangular teeth, brown, densely fringed with long silky hairs. Cup-shaped disc 1.5–2.5 mm deep, oblique, glabrous. Stamens mostly 6–10; filaments very short; anthers purple.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Aug.– Sep.