Populus euphratica, commonly known as the Euphrates poplar,[3]desert poplar,[citation needed]diversiform-leaved poplar, or poplar diversifolia,[4] is a species of poplar tree in the willowfamily.
The Euphrates poplar is a medium-sized deciduous tree that may grow to a height of about 15 m (49 ft)and a girth of 2.5 m (8.2 ft) where conditions are favorable. The stem is typically bent and forked; old stems have thick, rough, olive-greenbark. While the sapwood is white, the heartwood is red, darkening to almost black at the center. The roots spread widely but not deeply. The leaves are highly variable in shape.
The flowers are borne as catkins; those of the male are 25–50 mm (0.98–1.97 in) long, and those of the female 50–70 mm (2.0–2.8 in). The fruits are ovoid-lanceolate capsules, 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) long, containing tiny seeds enveloped in silky hairs.[5]
It is a prominent component of Tugayfloodplain ecosystems along river valleys in arid and semi-arid regions, mixed with willow, tamarisk and mulberry in dense thickets. It grows well on land that is seasonally flooded and is tolerant of saline and brackish water. Much used as a source of firewood, its forests have largely disappeared or become fragmented over much of its natural range.[5][6]
^Heptner, V. G.; Sludskij, A. A. (1992) [1972]. Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola [Mammals of the Soviet Union. Volume II, Part 2. Carnivora (Hyaenas and Cats)]. Washington DC: Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation. pp. 1–732.
^Hugh Cross (report leader), Jeff Ball, Dugald Black, Lee Bowling, Jean Hung, Ary van der Lely, Overseas Projects Corporation of Victoria Limited (July 1999). INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE TARIM BASIN(PDF) (Report). World Bank. Retrieved 10 October 2021.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abc"Populus euphratica". Agroforestry Tree Database. World Agroforestry Centre. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
