FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Populus trichocarpa, Black Cottonwood, Balsamösp

Populus trichocarpa; The Black Cottonwood is a rather tall tree (20m or more - in the USA up to 50m) that has been planted all over Iceland, thus becoming a settled species. Originally it is an American species.
  - The leaves are obovate shaped about (more or less) 15cm long - slightly serrated. They are glossy on top, dull below; glabrous, the petioles only slightly short-haired. The petioles are round (flattened in P. tremula).
  - The flowers are arranged in catkins. They are normally dioecious meaning male or female catkins appear on different trees. It takes more or less 10 years before it start to produce catkins.
  - As said, it has been planted all over Iceland, becoming a common species around towns and villages, farms, parks etc. It also spreads naturally on disturbed soils, roadsides etc.
  - It is a member of the Salicaceae, the Willow family. Next to the name "Black Cottonwood" it is also known as "western balsam-poplar" and "California poplar". The Icelandic name for this species is Balsamösp, the name Alaskaösp is also used for this species on Iceland.