Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Also Known As: Common aspen
Plant Family: Willows (Salicaceae)

Identification Guide: *Print version
Phenophase Field Guide: *Print version

2009 Live Map - View

Did you Know? Quaking aspen is the most widely distributed tree in North America. In Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Utah quaking aspen occupies more land than any other forest type. Stands of quaking aspen are good firebreaks, often dropping crown fires in conifer stands to the ground when they reach aspens and even sometimes extinguishing the fire because of the small amount of flammable accumulation. One male clone in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah occupies 17.2 acres (43 ha) and has more than 47,000 stem! Although individual ramets/trees of a clone may be short-lived, the clone may be long-lived.

Identification Hints: Quaking aspen is unique in its smooth rounded leaves which flitter in the slightest breeze, due to the thin flattened stems (petioles) and its bright white or cream colored bark. In the Midwest and northeastern US you can also see bigtooth aspen (Populus granditentata) which has coarse rounded teeth on the leaf margin, and fine hairs on stout twigs and dusty gray buds and brown or green bark.The European aspen (Populus tremula) is also similar but has rounded irregular teeth on its leaves, and grayish bark. Poplars and cottonwoods generally have triangular-shaped leaves.

Phenological Observations of Interest: First Pollen, Full Pollen, End of Pollen, First Leaf, All Leaves Unfolded, First Ripe Fruit, 50% Color, 50% Leaf Fall

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2009 Live Map for Quaking aspen

Below you can view the latest 100 observations that have been reported in 2009 for Quaking aspen (If the map below is empty then there have not been any 2009 observations reported.)

Use the navigation buttons on the left to zoom in/out and pan around. Click on each place marker to get detail information about that observation.

= First Pollen
= Full Pollen
= End of Pollen
= First Leaf
= All Leaves Unfolded
= First Ripe Fruit
= 50% Color
= 50% Leaf Fall

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