Quaking Aspen Tree (Populus tremuloides)

Quaking Aspen is one among the several tree varieties mentioned by the common name Aspen. It is a deciduous tree that hails from the cooler regions of North America. This tree variety is also called trembling aspen, quaking aspen and American aspen. The Quaking Aspen tree is the most extensively spread tree in the northern part of America, and they are largely found in Canada and the central part of Mexico.

Features

The Quaking Aspen is capable of growing to a maximum height of 25 meters, sometimes grows up to 36.5 meters. These tree varieties have broad trunks with a diameter ranging from 20 cm to 80 cm, sometimes the diameter of the trunk goes up to 1.37 meters when fully grown. These trees have smooth greenish-white to gray bark, with black color horizontal markings. The leaves of these trees are circular in shape and glossy with their underneath part, appearing dull. These leaves turn into golden yellow during the autumn season, but they also become red occasionally. When the Quaking Aspen tree is fully grown, the leaves of the tree attain the maximum length of 7 centimeters, with a diameter of 8 centimeters. The leaves of the young trees of this variety are triangle in shape and have the maximum length of 20 centimeters. The Quaking Aspen tree variety habitually spreads through its roots to shape huge orchards.

The Quaking Aspen tree produces flowers in the early spring earlier than the leaves. The flowers of this tree variety are called catkins, and their length ranges from 4 centimeters to 6 centimeters. This tree variety is dioecious, with female and male catkins on dissimilar trees. The fruit of the Quaking Aspen tree has a length of 10 centimeters with a pendulous string of six-millimeter capsules, each capsule comprising about 10 miniature seeds entrenched in cottony feathers, which assists wind dispersion of the seeds when they are fully grown in early summer.

Uses

Similar to other varieties, Quaking Aspen trees make poor firewood because they rot quickly, dry slowly, and do not offer a large amount of heat. Yet, the wood of these trees is still extensively employed in campgrounds since they are inexpensive and abundant and not extensively employed in building lumber. The wood of these trees can also be used to create dugouts and log cabins.

The average lifespan of the Quaking Aspen tree ranges from 50 years to 60 years.