Michigan Trees: A Handbook of the Native and Most Important Introduced Species

by Charles Herbert Otis

7. Fruit, × 1/2.

SALICACEAE

Balm of Gilead. Balsam

Populus balsamifera L.

HABIT.—A tree 60-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; forming a rather narrow, open, pyramidal crown of few, slender, horizontal branches.

LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-6 inches long, about one-half as broad; ovate to ovate-lanceolate; finely crenate-serrate; thin and firm; lustrous, dark green above, paler beneath; petioles 1-1/2 inches long, slender, terete, smooth.

FLOWERS.—April, before the leaves; dioecious; the staminate in long-stalked catkins 3-4 inches long; the pistillate in loose-flowered, long-stalked catkins 4-5 inches long; calyx 0; corolla 0; stamens 20-30, with bright red anthers; ovary short-stalked; stigmas 2, wavy-margined.

FRUIT.—May-June; 2-valved, ovoid, short-pedicelled capsules 1/4 inch long, borne in drooping catkins 4-6 inches long; seeds light brown, hairy.

WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud about 1 inch long, ovoid, long-pointed, brownish, resin-coated, sticky, fragrant.