Salicaceae (willow family) Populus

Populus × canadensis Carolina poplar

Hybrid
Populus × canadensis next to Green Library. Left to right: liquidambar, Carolina poplar (two), zelkova, liquidambar. John Rawlings, 10 Nov 2006

Two trees at the main entrance to Green Library, on the south side of the Bing Wing, are reputed to be of this transatlantic hybrid species, as is a specimen to the right of Sigma Chi, 550 Lasuen Mall.

Poplars and willows are principal actors in phytoremediation, a technique of treating contaminated groundwater. Poisonous metals such as zinc, arsenic, and mercury are sought by the roots; as a consequence, removal of a few cubic yards of plant material offers an economic alternative to bulldozing thousands of cubic yards of contaminated soil.

About this Entry: The main text of this entry is from the book Trees of Stanford and Environs, by Ronald Bracewell, published 2005.