Populus ciliata
| Populus ciliata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Salicaceae |
| Genus: | Populus |
| Section: | Populus sect. Tacamahaca |
| Species: | P. ciliata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Populus ciliata Wall. ex Royle
| |
Populus ciliata, the Himalayan poplar, is a large deciduous tree with tall clean straight trunk and wide rounded crown.[2] The bark of the young trees is smooth greenish-grey and the bark of the old trees is dark brown with vertical cracks. Leaves are broadly ovate with serrulate-crenate and hairy margins.[2] Flowers are drooping raceme catkins appear before or with leaves.[2] Populus ciliata flowers are dioecious, individual flowers are either male or female. Perianth of male flowers is bell-shaped and female flowers are bluntly toothed. Their capsule encloses an average of 100–150 seeds, which are covered by long silky hair.[2]
Ecology and distribution[edit]
Geographical distribution[edit]
Populus ciliata is natively distributed along the Himalayas through China, Pakistan, India (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.[1][3] Populus ciliata is exotic to Afghanistan, France, Iran, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States.[2]
Natural habitat[edit]
Populus ciliata prefers moist cool places and grows in sandy, loamy, and clay soil.[2] It grows well in acidic or neutral soil conditions.[2] Shade inhibits the growth of P. ciliata.[2]
Reproductive biology[edit]
Populus ciliata is a dioecious tree which is pollinated by the wind.[2] The fruits grow in about 3 months after pollination.[2] Seed dispersal takes place from about the middle of June to the middle of July depending upon the climate.[2] It can reproduce through seed and vegetative means.[4]
Propagation[edit]
The seeds weigh about 15 million/kg.[2] In spring, seeds disperse as soon as they mature as they have an extremely short period of viability and needs to be spread within a few days of maturing.[4] Fresh seeds exhibit high viability giving a germination rate of up to 75–90%.[2]
Uses[edit]
Food[edit]
Populus ciliata is chopped for food and stored to be fed to livestock during the times of food shortage.[2]
Fuel[edit]
Populus ciliata is used as fuel wood.[2]
Timber[edit]
Populus ciliata wood is used for making boxes for packing purposes, also for poles, trucks and barrow-trays, coaches, furniture and cross-beams.[2]
Medicine[edit]
Bark is used to make tonic, stimulants and blood purifier. The paste of the bark, when mixed with the ash of cow dung, can be used to treat muscular swellings.[2]
Other[edit]
Populus ciliata provides paper for writing, wrapping and printing.[2]
Erosion control[edit]
This tree can be used to control erosion as it easily establishes in shallow soils and exhibits a fast growth rate and produces numerous strong lateral roots with little taper.[2] Hence, extensive use of this tree is made in China, Japan, the USA and New Zealand to bind soil in erosion-prone areas.[2]
Pests and diseases[edit]
During raining season, the leaves of the tree become extensively colonized by leaf defoliators such as Pyragea cupreata and P. fulgurita.[2] In India record show that this tree has been a victim of the plant parasite known as Loranthus elatus.[2] Other pathogens that cause premature defoliation in this species include Bipolaris mydis, Pseudocercospora salicia and Phorma macrostoma.[2] Incidences[spelling?] of ganoderma root rot have also been reported in this species.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Barstow, M. (2018). "Populus ciliata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T61959792A61959807. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1333. 2011 “HIMALAYAN Poplar (Populus ciliata)- AgroForestryTree Database”,
- ^ http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200005658. "HIMALAYAN Poplar (Populus ciliata)- Flora of Pakistan".
- ^ a b Sheikh, MI (1992). "Populus ciliata" (PDF). Trees of Pakistan: 5–142.,
External links[edit]
. Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 89–90.