{{Short description|Species of tree}} {{Speciesbox | image = Safeda 3.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn | author = Barstow, M. | title = ''Populus ciliata'' | article-number = e.T61959792A61959807 | year = 2018 | access-date = 23 January 2023}}</ref> | genus = Populus | parent = Populus sect. Tacamahaca | species = ciliata | authority = Wall. ex Royle }}

'''''Populus ciliata''''', the '''Himalayan poplar''', is a large [[deciduous]] tree with tall clean straight trunk and wide rounded crown.<ref name=AFTDB>{{Cite web |last1=Orwa |first1=C |last2=Mutua |first2=A |last3=Kindt |first3=R |last4=Jamnadass |first4=R |last5=Simons |first5=A |date=2009 |title=Populus ciliata |url=https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/AFTPDFS/Populus_ciliata.PDF |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=Agroforestree Database}}</ref> The bark of the young trees is smooth and greenish-grey while the bark of the old trees is dark brown with vertical cracks. Leaves are broadly ovate with hairy [[Leaf#Edge (margin)|serrulate-crenate]] margins.<ref name= AFTDB/> Flowers are drooping [[raceme]] [[catkins]] that appear before or with leaves.<ref name= AFTDB/> ''Populus ciliata'' flowers are [[Dioecy|dioecious]]. Male flowers have a bell-shaped [[perianth]] and female flowers are bluntly toothed. A single capsule encloses an average of 100–150 seeds, which are covered by long silky hair.<ref name= AFTDB/>

==Ecology and distribution== ===Geographical distribution=== ''Populus ciliata'' is natively distributed along the [[Himalayas]] through China, Pakistan, India ([[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Sikkim]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]]), [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]], and [[Myanmar]].<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=FOP>{{Cite web |title=Populus ciliata |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200005658 |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=Flora of Pakistan}}</ref> ''Populus ciliata'' is exotic to Afghanistan, France, Iran, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States.<ref name= AFTDB/>

===Natural habitat=== ''Populus ciliata'' prefers moist cool places and grows in sandy, loamy, and clay soil.<ref name= AFTDB/> It grows well in acidic or neutral soil conditions.<ref name= AFTDB/> Shade inhibits the growth of ''P. ciliata''.<ref name= AFTDB/>

===Reproductive biology=== ''Populus ciliata'' is a dioecious tree pollinated by the wind.<ref name= AFTDB/> The fruits grow in about 3 months after pollination.<ref name= AFTDB/> Seed dispersal takes place from about the middle of June to the middle of July depending upon the climate.<ref name= AFTDB/> It can reproduce through seed and vegetative means.<ref name= Sheikh>{{cite journal|url= http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNABW250.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120915211059/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNABW250.pdf|archive-date= September 15, 2012|title= Populus ciliata|journal= Trees of Pakistan |year= 1992|pages=5–142|last1=Sheikh|first1=MI}},</ref>

==Propagation==

The seeds weigh about 15 million/kg.<ref name= AFTDB/> In spring, seeds disperse as soon as they mature due to an extremely short period of viability of a few days after maturation.<ref name= Sheikh/> Fresh seeds exhibit high viability with a germination rate of up to 75–90%.<ref name= AFTDB/>

==Uses== ===Food=== ''Populus ciliata'' is chopped for food and stored to be fed to livestock during times of food shortage.<ref name= AFTDB/>

===Fuel=== ''Populus ciliata'' is used as fuel wood.<ref name= AFTDB/>

===Timber=== ''Populus ciliata'' wood is used for making boxes for packing purposes, as well as for poles, trucks, barrow-trays, coaches, furniture and cross-beams.<ref name= AFTDB/>

===Medicine=== The bark is used to make tonics, stimulants and blood purifiers. The paste of the bark, when mixed with the ash of cow dung, can be used to treat muscular swellings.<ref name= AFTDB/>

===Other===

''Populus ciliata'' provides paper for writing, wrapping and printing.<ref name= AFTDB/>

==Erosion control==

This tree can be used to control [[erosion]] as it easily establishes in shallow soils, exhibits a fast growth rate, and produces numerous strong lateral roots with little taper.<ref name= AFTDB/> Hence, it has been used extensively in China, Japan, the USA and New Zealand to bind soil in erosion-prone areas.<ref name= AFTDB/>

==Pests and diseases==

During rainy season, the leaves of the tree are extensively colonized by leaf defoliators such as ''[[Pyragea cupreata]]'' and ''[[Pyragra fulgurita|P.&nbsp;fulgurita]]''.<ref name= AFTDB/> In India, records show that this tree has been a victim of the plant parasite ''[[Loranthus elatus]]''.<ref name= AFTDB/> Other pathogens that cause premature defoliation in this species include ''[[Bipolaris mydis]]'', ''[[Pseudocercospora salicia]]'' and ''[[Phorma macrostoma]]''.<ref name= AFTDB/> Incidents of ganoderma root rot have also been reported in this species.<ref name= AFTDB/>

==References== {{Reflist|32em}}

==External links== {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Poplar (tree) |display=Poplar |volume=22 |pages=89–90 |short=1}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2331107}}

[[Category:Populus|ciliata]] [[Category:Trees of China]] [[Category:Trees of the Indian subcontinent]] [[Category:Trees of Myanmar]]