Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides · Salicaceae (Willow and Poplar family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Broadly ovate to nearly orbicular with an abruptly acuminate tip
Margin
Finely serrate or crenate-serrate with rounded teeth
Arrangement
Alternate on the twig, with noticeably flattened petioles that cause the leaves to tremble in the slightest breeze
Venation
Pinnate venation with prominent midrib and branching secondary veins forming a reticulate network
Key Features
Flattened leaf petioles, finely toothed round-ovate leaves, smooth whitish bark on young trees, and tendency to grow in large clonal colonies via root sprouts.
Description
Populus tremuloides is a slender, fast-growing deciduous tree featuring smooth white-to-greenish bark and rounded leaves that flutter audibly in the wind. In autumn, the foliage transforms into a striking, brilliant golden-yellow.
Habitat
Boreal forests, mixed-wood forests, disturbed areas, and rocky slopes. Prefers moist to well-drained soils and high sunlight.
Native Range
Widespread across North America, particularly abundant in Canada and the northern United States including Minnesota, extending down mountain ranges in the West.
Notes
Northern Minnesota