silver poplar

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European white poplar
• silver poplar
• silver-leaved poplar
• white poplar
• Abele
• Silver-leaf Poplar
• silverleaf poplar
• Abbey
• Silver popple

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Populus alba var. caspica
• Populus bolleana
• Populus alba var. crispa
• Populus aegyptiaca
• Populus alba var. nivea
• Populus major
• Populus alba f. nivea
• Populus alba f. richardii
• Populus nivea
• Populus alba f. globosa
• Populus alba var. pendula
• Populus paletskyana
• Populus morisetiana
• Populus alba var. salomonii
• Populus alba var. bolleana
• Populus grisea
• Populus alba umbraculifera
• Populus hickeliana
• Populus alba var. nutans
• Populus quercifolia
• Populus caspica
• Populus alba var. pyramidalis
• Populus excelsa
• Populus alba f. pyramidalis
• Leuce alba
• Populus triloba
• Populus bachofenii
• Populus belgica
• Populus arbeel
• Populus arembergiana
• Populus arembergica
• Populus berkarensis
• Populus subintegerrima
• Populus intermedia
• Populus subintegerrima var. berkanensis
• Populus hybrida
• Populus alba var. acerifolia
• Populus alba var. denudata
• Populus alba proles nivea
• Populus pseudonivea
• Populus alba var. bachofenii
• Populus alba var. hickeliana
• Populus alba subsp. nivea
• Populus alba f. pendula
• Populus denudata
• Populus hickeliana var. tremulifolia
• Populus alba var. integrifolia
• Populus alba var. microphylla
• Populus alba var. subintegerrima
• Populus hyrcana
• Populus nivea salomonii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales, falling into the family Salicaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Populus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Populus alba, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing within the territories of Denmark, Great Britain, and Ireland. Its presence also extends further north into the country of Sweden. Additionally, the species is documented in Middle Europe, specifically within Austria. These locations highlight its ability to thrive in diverse northern and central European landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Populus alba is characterized by its adaptability to diverse landscapes, thriving in habitats such as dunes, forests, and meadows, with a particular preference for wet environments including riverbanks and sandy soils. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2400 m AMSL, though it is most commonly found at a mean elevation of approximately 831 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

831 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

dunes, forest, meadows: wet, rivers, sand

Life history

The life history of Populus alba is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically large woody branches that keep the buds well above the ground level. This life form is further categorized under the phanerophyte classification, reflecting its robust, tree-like growth habit. Additionally, the species exhibits a deciduous nature, undergoing a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage annually, typically in response to colder temperatures or changing light availability, before entering a period of dormancy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Populus alba is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically existing as a large tree. It is a self-supporting, independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with height dimensions ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 35 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 25.25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

35 m

Plant height mean:

25.25 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Populus alba is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure includes non-carnivorous leaves that exhibit a lobed form, with morphological dimensions ranging from a minimum leaf length of 3 cm and a minimum width of 2 cm to a maximum length of 9.7 cm and a maximum width of 7 cm; the average leaf dimensions are recorded at 6 cm in length and 3.5 cm in width. These leaves possess a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 111.53 cm²/g, reflecting the relationship between leaf area and dry mass. Structurally, the plant maintains a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 542 mg/cm³. Furthermore, Populus alba does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

lobed

Leaf length max:

9.7 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

111.53 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

542 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Populus alba is characterized by a dioecious sexual reproductive system, meaning that self-fertilization is absent. The flowering process occurs primarily during the spring, with flowering starting in March and concluding in April. The inflorescence is structured as a catkin, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 0.07 m. Pollination is an abiotic process driven by a wind pollination syndrome. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules are dehiscence-type fruits, maintaining a consistent fruit length of approximately 0.5 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds. The seeds are extremely minute, with a mean mass of 0.00012 g (with minimum and maximum values also recorded at 0.00012 g) and dimensions for length and width that are effectively 0 mm. Dispersal of these seeds is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing the wind to spread the progeny. Asexual reproduction is noted as being absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Inflorescence :

catkin

Inflorescence length max:

0.07 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.03 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed length mean:

0 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.00012 g

Seed width mean:

0 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Populus alba has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Chemicals

Populus alba has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Pinocembrin, chrysin, p-coumaric acid, 1,1-Dimethylallyl caffeic acid ester.

Flavonoids

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Pinocembrin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

chrysin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

p-coumaric acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of applied microbiology

1,1-Dimethylallyl caffeic acid ester

1. Contact dermatitis

Chlorophylls

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

EO

1. Dr. Duke

Esters

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Galangin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Populus alba has 167 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, ACE-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Analgesic, Anthelmintic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCRP

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiMDR

1. Dr. Duke

AntiMRSA

1. Dr. Duke

AntiReye's

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Populus alba has 2 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaf-buds extracts, methylene chloride-methanolic extracts.

Leaf-buds extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Methylene chloride-methanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology