Published In:
Species Plantarum 2: 1034. 1753. (1 May 1753) ( Sp. Pl.)   
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(Last Modified On 6/2/2011)
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Acceptance
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Accepted
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(Last Modified On 6/3/2011)
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Synonym Text:
Populus caspica Bornm. in Fedde Repert. 47: 70. t. 283. 1939; A. Neumann in Rech.f., Fl. Iran. 65: 10. 1969; R.R. Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. Kashm. 180. 1972.
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Flower/Fruit:
Fl. Per.: May-July.
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Type:
Type: Described from temperate Europe, Herb. Linn. 1185/1 (LINN).
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Distribution:
Distribution: Europe, N. Africa, South West and Western Central Asia including Kashmir and Pakistan (N.W.F. Province, Murree, Baluchistan).
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Comment/Acknowledgements:
According to A. Nauman (l.c.) P. alba L. is confined to Europe, N. Africa and Anatolia and does not extend to Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Persia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia, a region where it is replaced by P. caspica Bornm. However, this interpretation has not been accepted by subsequent workers (Meikle, Fl. Cyprus 2: 1491. 1985; Czerepanov, Vasc. Pl. Russia Adj. States (former USSR), 1995 and A. K. Skvortsov, personal communication).
This species is widely cultivated and produces suckers in abundance. It is a handsome road-side tree in Hazara etc.
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Map Location:
A-7 Kangan, Sind valley, 6000 ft, 9.8 (18) 91, G.A. Gammie (K); B-6 Swat, Kalam, 7000 ft, 24.8.1955, A. Rahman 75 (BM); B-7 Lio, Piti, 6-7000 ft, Aug. 1848, T. Thomson 2049 (K); Planted about Abbottabad-not seen wild, Barrett Hb. no. 103, ex Herb. Drummond 22016 (K); B-8 Rondu, Baltistan, (18) 48, T. Thomson (K); Skardo, 6900-7500 ft, 6.8.-4.9.1856, Schlagintweit 702 (BM); Kashmir, near Gurais, 8000 ft, 10.9.1893, J.F.Duthie 14003 (BM); B-9 Yartuk, Shayuk valley, 6-7000 ft, cultivated, 29.10.1847, T. Thomson (K); Shigar valley, Balti or Little Tibet, 20.10.1847, J.E. Winterbottom 1276 (K); C-6 Kurram valley, cultivated tree near village, April 1879, J.E.T. Aitchison 254 (K); Kurram valley, Shalizan, cult. large tree, not woolly, 19.5.1879, J.E.T. Aitchison 350 (K); C-7 Murree Hills, Upper Topa, not very common, 20.8.1920, J.H. Barbour (BM); Murree, 15.5. (18) 51, Fleming 368 (E, K); D-4 Quetta, Sept., 1885, J.H. Lace (K); Quetta, cultivated, June 1889, J.H. Lace 3639 (E); E-4 Mastung Rest House, 5530 ft. cultivated tree, about 12-20 ft. leaves white, softly pubescent below, 17.6.1957, S.M.H. Jafri 1726 (K,KUH).
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Medium to large tree, bark whitish to greyish on young branches smooth, rough on old stems. Dense soft cottony tomentum on young shoots. Petiole 2.5-5.5 cm long, covered by cottony tomentum; lamina 5-10.5 cm long, ovate, with obtuse sinuate lobes or 3-5 lobed, usually broader than long, base 3-5 nerved, acute, cottony on the upper surface when young, cottony tomentose on the lower surface. Male catkin 5-10.5 cm long. Male flower: Bract oblanceolate, hairy, tip slightly toothed; disk small; stamens 5-10. Female catkin 3-5 cm. Bract oblanceolate, hairy, tip slightly toothed, disk cup-shaped, crenulate. Stigmas 2, cleft almost to the base into 4 linear lobes. Capsule 5-6.5 mm long, shortly pedicellate, bivaled, smooth.
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