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Populus nigra (Salicaceae)

It is likely that one of these plants, which grows in the municipality of Lauria Superiore (PZ), was present in piazza dell’Olmo. A beautiful black poplar in good health conditions which grows in a small flowerbed. The trunk circumference is 6.10 meters and it branches at the height of 1 meter forming two boughs which reach the height of 32 meters. The specie has a high resistance level, but lives for a short time 90-100 years.

How to reach it:

The black poplar is located in Lauria Superiore (PZ) in piazza dell’Olmo.

Botanical characteristics:

It hails from the central-southern area of Europe and the eastern area of Asia. The plant is spread in all Italian regions and it grows till 1,200 meters of altitude. The specie is not long living (max 100 years), but it expands rapidly. It prefers wet, fresh and deep soils and it tolerates well water stagnation. It can live in sandy and rocky soils, but it needs to reach water with the roots.

It is present often along rivers and lakes, also in soils which are flooded. The species is vulnerable to fungus infections if there is a low presence of water.

Black poplars are used as decorative plants for lines and as road trees. The buds and the cortex contain essential oils (salicin and populin) which are used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Its wood is light and elastic. It is not suitable for the production of precious objects but it is used in the wallpaper industry, to produce matches and semi-finishes products like plywood.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)