Populus euphratica

{{Short description|Species of tree}} {{Speciesbox |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref>{{cite iucn |author=Barstow, M. |year=2018 |title=''Populus euphratica'' |volume=2018 |article-number=e.T19178509A117646829 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T19178509A117646829.en |access-date=7 December 2022}}</ref> |image = Tarim Desert Highway - Desert poplars, Xinjiang, China.jpg |image_caption = |taxon = Populus euphratica |authority = [[Daniel Oliver (botanist)|Oliv.]] |synonyms = {{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; | *''Balsamiflua euphratica'' (Olivier) Kimura *''Balsamiflua illicitana'' (Dode) Kimura *''Populus ariana'' Dode *''Populus diversifolia'' Schrenk *''Populus illicitana'' Dode *''Populus litwinowiana'' Dode *''Populus transcaucasica'' Jarm. ex Grossh. *''Turanga ariana'' Kimura *''Turanga diversifolia'' Kimura *''Turanga euphratica'' (Olivier) Kimura *''Turanga litwinowiana'' (Dode) Kimura }} |synonyms_ref = <ref>{{citation |url = http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-5000084 |title = The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species |access-date = 26 September 2016}}</ref> }}

'''''Populus euphratica''''', commonly known as the '''Euphrates poplar''',<ref name="Geptner1972">{{cite book |author1=Heptner, V. G. |author2=Sludskij, A. A. |orig-date=1972 |year=1992 |title=Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola |trans-title=Mammals of the Soviet Union. Volume II, Part 2. Carnivora (Hyaenas and Cats) |publisher=Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation |location=Washington DC |url=https://archive.org/stream/mammalsofsov221992gept#page/83/mode/2up |pages=1–732}}</ref> '''desert poplar''',{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} '''diversiform-leaved poplar''', or '''poplar diversifolia''',<ref>{{cite report |author1=Hugh Cross (report leader), Jeff Ball, Dugald Black, Lee Bowling, Jean Hung, Ary van der Lely, Overseas Projects Corporation of Victoria Limited |title=INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN THE TARIM BASIN |url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/212421468012932368/pdf/E21120EA0SF1EA10Box338877B01PUBLIC1.pdf |publisher=World Bank |access-date=10 October 2021 |date=July 1999 |issue=E2112}}</ref> is a species of [[Populus|poplar]] tree in the [[Salicaceae|willow]] [[Family (taxonomy)|family]].

The Euphrates poplar is a medium-sized [[deciduous]] tree that may grow to a height of about {{convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on}}and a [[Circumference|girth]] of {{convert|2.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} where conditions are favorable. The stem is typically bent and forked; old stems have thick, rough, [[Olive (color)|olive-green]] [[Bark (botany)|bark]]. While the [[Wood#Heartwood and sapwood|sapwood]] is white, the heartwood is red, darkening to almost black at the center. The roots spread widely but not deeply. The [[leaf|leaves]] are highly variable in shape.

The flowers are borne as [[catkin]]s; those of the male are {{convert|25|-|50|mm|in|abbr=on}} long, and those of the female {{convert|50|-|70|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The fruits are ovoid-lanceolate capsules, {{convert|7|-|12|mm|in|abbr=on}} long, containing tiny seeds enveloped in silky hairs.<ref name=aftd>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/products/afdbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1335 |title=''Populus euphratica'' |access-date=2013-04-16 |work=Agroforestry Tree Database |publisher=World Agroforestry Centre |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731033029/http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1335 |archive-date=2012-07-31 }}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat== The species has a very wide range, occurring naturally from [[North Africa]], across the [[Middle East]] and [[Central Asia]] to western [[China]]. It may be found in dry [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forest]]s and [[Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests|subtropical dry broadleaf forests]] at altitudes of up to {{convert|4000|m|mile|abbr=on}} above sea level.

It is a prominent component of [[Tugay]] [[floodplain]] ecosystems along river valleys in [[desert climate|arid]] and [[semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] regions, mixed with [[willow]], [[Tamarix|tamarisk]] and [[Morus (plant)|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.<ref name=aftd/><ref>[http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002204/220466eo.pdf Treshkin, S.Y., S.K. Kamalov, A. Bachiev, N. Mamutov, A.I. Gladishev and I. Aimbetov. 1998. Present status of the tugai forests in the lower Amu-Dar'ya Basin and problems of their protection and restoration. Pages 43-53 in Ecological Research and Monitoring of the Aral Sea Deltas. A Basis for Restoration. UNESCO Aral Sea Project, 1992-1996 Final Scientific Reports, UNESCO, Paris, France.]</ref>

==Uses== The species is used in [[agroforestry]] to provide leaves as [[fodder]] for [[livestock]], [[timber]] and, potentially, [[fibre|fiber]] for [[Papermaking|making paper]]. It is also used in [[afforestation]] programs on [[Soil salinity|saline soils]] in desert regions, and to create [[windbreak]]s and check [[erosion]]. The bark is reported to have [[Anthelmintic]] properties.<ref name=aftd/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Populus|euphratica]] [[Category:Trees of Asia]] [[Category:Flora of Iraq]] [[Category:Flora of Jordan]] [[Category:Flora of Egypt]] [[Category:Flora of Syria]] [[Category:Plants described in 1807]]