Populus fremontii

Family: Salicaceae – Willow Family

Deciduous tree; 33' to 82.5' (10 to 25 m) tall

Leaves: alternate; simple; toothed; no hairs; turn yellow in fall; 0.8” to 4” (2 to 10 cm) long, 1.8” to 5” (4.5 to 12.5 cm) wide

Flowers: no petals, no sepals

Individual flowers are either male (staminate) or female (pistillate); borne in catkins on different trees (dioecious); staminate flowers with 50 to 80 stamens are 1.6” to 4” (4 to 10 cm) long with red anthers; pistillate flowers of a single pistil with 2-4 carpels and as many stigmas are 2” to 6” (5 to 15 cm) long

Pollinators: wind; not self-fertile

Fruits: capsule

Blooms in Arches National Park: March, April, May

Habitat in Arches National Park: riparian areas

Location seen: Courthouse wash

Other: The genus name, “Populus”, is Latin for "people" because the many leaves moving in a breeze resemble a moving populace. The species name, “fremontii”, honors explorer John Charles Fremont (1813-1890).