Populus balsamifera

Populus balsamifera
A stem with young leaves
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Salicaceae
Genus: Populus
Section: Populus sect. Tacamahaca
Species:
P. balsamifera
Binomial name
Populus balsamifera
Natural range
Synonyms[2]
  • Populus tacamahacca Mill.
  • Populus candicans Aiton

Populus balsamifera, commonly called balsam poplar,[3] bam,[4] bamtree,[2] eastern balsam-poplar,[5] hackmatack,[2] tacamahac poplar,[2] tacamahaca,[2] is a tree species in the balsam poplar species group in the poplar genus, Populus. The genus name Populus is from the Latin for poplar, and the specific epithet balsamifera from Latin for "balsam-bearing".[6]

Populus balsamifera is the northernmost North American hardwood, growing transcontinentally on boreal and montane upland and flood plain sites, and attaining its best development on flood plains. It is a hardy, fast-growing tree which is generally short lived, but some trees as old as 200 years have been found.[7]

The tree is known for its strong, sweet fragrance, which emanates from its sticky, resinous buds. The smell has been compared to that of the balsam fir tree.

  1. ^ Stritch, L. (2018). "Populus balsamifera". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T61959749A61959757. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T61959749A61959757.en. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Populus balsamifera". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
  3. ^ NRCS. "Populus balsamifera". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  4. ^ Peattie, Donald Culross. 1991. A Natural History of Trees of Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, p. 100.
  5. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  6. ^ Earl J.S. Rook (2006-03-04). "Balsam Poplar, Populus balsamifera". Natural History of the Northwoods. Rook.org. Archived from the original on 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference sylvics was invoked but never defined (see the help page).