Bigtooth Aspen, Largetooth aspen
Populus grandidentata
Family: Salicaceae
What it is like
A small tree. It grows to 20 m tall. The trunk is 30 cm across. The bark is greenish and smooth. It becomes brown and divided into flat scaly ridges with age. The leaves are 6-10 cm long and 4.5-9 cm wide. The leaves on the shorter older twigs have sharp teeth. The leaves on younger twigs are more rounded. Their edges are wavy. The leaves are dull green and paler underneath. They turn yellow in autumn. The leafstalks are long, slender and flattened. The flowers are catkins 4-6 cm long. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The fruit are 6 mm long and narrow cone shape. There are many tiny seeds.
There are about 35 Populus species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows well on moist fertile soils. It is smaller and more scrubby on dry poor soils. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Canada, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The soft inner bark layer is scraped, boiled and eaten.
Edible parts
Inner wood, bark
How it is grown
Trees live for 60 years.