Japanese Aspen🌿

A deciduous tree in the willow family, an endemic Japanese variety of the European aspen — the representative Populus of Japan. Distributed in mountains from Honshū to Kyūshū, growing 15–25 m tall. The long flattened petioles cause the leaves to tremble and rustle in the slightest breeze — the source of the Japanese name 'yama-narashi' ('mountain-rustler'). A pioneer species like white birch, quickly colonizing landslides and clear-cuts and dominating early forest succession. Wood used for match sticks and pulp.

Identification Points

• ✓Long flattened petioles; leaves tremble in slight breeze
• ✓Round to ovate leaves with toothed margins
• ✓Grey-white smooth bark when young

Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification

Phylogenetic Positionヤナギ科 →