Populus nigra “Italica”
Lombardy poplar

- Family: Salicaceae
- Origen: native to Europe and Western Asia
- Interesting fact: the buds are used for medicinal purposes, as they are highly disinfectant and diuretic, as well as effective against colds and haemorrhoids

A quick growing tree that reaches 30 metres in height. The bark is dark and cracked in adults, and thick bulges, like knots or tumours, are frequent along the trunk.

The leaves are deciduous, alternate, sometimes quite variable, rhomboidal or suborbicular, slightly hairy in young specimens and hairless in adults, 5 to 10 centimetres, with a long petiole, somewhat flattened and reddish.

New branches and buds produce a viscous, sticky liquid.

The flowers are unisexual and sprout in catkins. The males are pendular, initially grey in colour and then reddish, about 5 centimetres long. Each flower has between 8 and 20 stamens. The female catkins are also pendular, but green in colour.

The fruits are decaying capsules, arranged in pendulous panicles, with many seeds surrounded by hairs.

It is a dioecious species, with male nodes and female nodes.

Source: Rosalía de Castro Park Botanical Guide