Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
August
This deciduous tree has smooth whitish bark when young. As it ages it begins to have dark furrows in the trunk and can easily scar. Sometimes bears will mark their territory by leaving scratch marks on the trunk. The trunk is generally small and straight, measuring 60-80ft tall. In exposed locations the trunk may become bent or grow prostrate to the ground. The leaves are almost oval-shaped and have a flattened petiole which allows the leaf to flutter in the wind, thus the name quaking aspen. Stands of these trees are often all clones of one individual, connected by their roots!
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August 11, 2012
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Last updated: August 12, 2012