Poplar

"Balsam Poplar" (Populus balsamifera)

While out walking one day we saw this young plant starting out:

20007 August 15

2007 August 15

Look at the size of those leaves. What was it? I wondered on this for a while until I walked by that way again and really looked at the plant and its surrounds. It is the shoot of a Balsam Poplar tree! The parent tree was close by and by examining the leaves and other shoots, they are the same only so BIG. Maybe it is its way of starting out. Anyway, this is what the tree should look like as when it grows up a bit:

2007 August 25

2007 August 25

2007 August 25

It is considered a hardwood. The wood can be used for a variety of products (eg. pulp & paper, veneer, core stock, boxes, crates, brackets), but species such as aspen and cottonwood are preferred. Can be used for structural lumber and milled house logs when other species are not available.

Traditionally, the:

• wood was used to make canoes, sideboards for riding, cradles and firewood.
• ashes were used to make a cleanser for hair and buckskin.
• roots were used to make rope.
• inner bark used in soap making and for food.
• resin could be used as an adhesive. Resin from the buds is used for natural health ointments to treat sore throats and coughs, while a balm was made from cottonwood buds to relieve congestion.
• bark was boiled as a poultice for wounds, worm medicine.

Grows where there is a good water source.