Hainault Forest Website

Tree identification

Aspen Populus tremula, White Poplar (Abele) P. alba

and  Grey Poplar  P. canescens  

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PURGING BUCKTHORN  ROWAN  SILVER BIRCH  SPINDLE  SWEET CHESTNUT  TURKEY OAK  WHITE WILLOW  WILD SERVICE

Twig and buds of Grey poplar with greyish bloom which rubs off. Buds alternate, small.

Aspen twig, shiny brown with pointed buds.

Twig of WHITE POPLAR Populus alba. Silvery hairs on twig.

Dormant buds are small brown and pointed. Female catkins  showing.

Left: Detail of male catkin of Grey Poplar, showing pollen.

      Grey poplar leaves in summer.  The underside of the lower leaf has lost the down.            Smaller leaves of Aspen. Simple pinnate leaf. Even on a still day the leaves flutter.

Simple palmate leaves of White Poplar. The white hairs on the underside of the leaf remain throughout the season.

Bole of Grey poplar. Deeply fissured at base with patches of silver higher up.

Aspen bole. The bark has diamond shaped markings.

A rare female Grey poplar found on the edge of the grassland area to the north of the lake.  Note the developing fruit on the catkins. The underside of the leaves are downy in the spring.