Populus lasiocarpa

Chinese necklace poplar is in the willow or Salicaceae family and is native to humid forests in China. Trees are up to 20 m tall. It is closely related to Wilson’s poplar (Populus wilsonii).

* Chinese necklace poplar differs from Wilson’s poplar in that the latter’s leaves are not hairy underneath and are generally smaller, with a flattened petiole and resinous buds.

• Leaves are alternate, simple, large, reaching a size of 35 cm long and 25 cm across, undersides of leaves are hairy; petioles are red, 5–8 cm long.
• Species is dioecious; male catkin is 9–12 cm long, male flower with 30–40 stamens; female catkin is 15–24 cm long, ripening in April-May.
• Seed capsule is ovoid, 1–1.7 cm long, developing in May-June, opening to release many small seeds attached to cotton-like strands which carry the seeds in the wind to disperse them.
• Bark is dark gray, furrowed; branchlets are yellowish brown or slightly purplish brown; buds are ovoid-conical, large, not resinous.