Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx)

March 14, 2006

Identification: Leaf: Alternate, simple, 1 to 3 inches long, green above

and paler below, heart-shaped to nearly round with a fine toothed

margin, petiole is flattened.

Flower: Dioecious, male and female hanging catkins 1 to 3 inches long.

Fruit: Catkin (2 to 4 inches long), with attached light green capsules

which contain many small hairy seeds.

Twig: Slender, glabrous, reddish brown often with a gray waxy film. Buds

conical, reddish-brown, terminal bud 1/4 inch long, they may be slightly

resinous.

Bark: At first smooth, creamy yellowish-white to very light green. Later

developing thick furrows and becoming dark, especially near the base.

Form: Small (30 to 40 feet tall) upright tree, which often occurs in

thickets.

Common Names: Trembling Aspen, Golden Aspen, Mountain Aspen, Popple,

Poplar, Trembling Poplar

Family: Salicaceae (Willow family)

Habitat: The range extends from Newfoundland and Labrador west across

Canada along the northern limit of trees to northwestern Alaska, and

southeast through Yukon and British Columbia. Throughout the Western

United States it is mostly in the mountains from Washington to

California, southern Arizona, Trans-Pecos Texas, and northern Nebraska.

From Iowa and eastern Missouri it ranges east to West Virginia, western

Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Quaking aspen is also found in

the mountains of Mexico, as far south as Guanajuato.

Parts Used: Root, bark, leaf buds.

Constituents: A few of the chemical compounds attributed to the

medicinal value are salicin and populin.

Medicinal Properties: Anti-rheumatic, Anti-pyretic, Antiseptic,

Astringent, Anodyne, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Bitter.

Uses: American Indians used root-bark tea for excessive menstrual

bleeding; poulticed root for cuts, wounds. Inner-bark tea used for

stomach pain, venereal disease, urinary ailments, worms, colds, fevers, \nand as an appetite stimulant. Leaf buds used in a salve for colds,

\ncoughs, irritated nostrils. Bark tincture (contains salicin) a folk

\nremedy used for fevers, rheumatism, arthritis, colds, worms, urinary

\ninfections, and diarrhea. Bark contains aspririn-like salicin, which is

\nanti-inflammatory, analgesic; reduces fevers.

\n

\nPreparations and Dosages:

\nBark - Strong decoction, 2 to 4 ounces, up to 4 times a day, when

\ncondition is acute.

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\nsource unknown to me...

“If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride, because it shows you trust in your own powers. Never bother about other people's opinions. Be humble and you will never be disturbed. Remember St. Aloysius, who said he would continue to play billiards even if he knew he was going to die. Do you play well? Sleep well? Eat well? These are duties. Nothing is small for God.”

~ Mother Theresa20th century humanitarian

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