Trembling poplar (common aspen): description, photo

This tree is widespread throughout the world. Trembling poplar (common aspen) is found everywhere. And yet, this powerful, beautiful tree did not become a favorite of landscapers and gardeners. Few people consider even his rapid growth a virtue.

The reason for such a negative attitude towards wood is poplar fluff, which causes people many problems. Today we will introduce trembling poplar (poplar genus). This is one of the representatives of a large family, which includes about 90 species. All of them are divided into six sections.

1. Abaso (Mexican poplars): Mexican poplar.

2. Aigeiros (delta poplars):

• sedum (black poplar);
• deltoid;
• pyramidal;
• More

3. Leucoides (leucoid poplars):

• variegated;
• white (or silver);
• trembling (or aspen).

4. Tacamahaca (balsam poplar):

• balsamic;
• laurel leaf;
• Maksimovich's poplar.

5. Turanga: Turanga Euphrates.

6. Hybrids:

• Berlin;
• Moscow;
• Canadian.

Trembling poplar: description

This is a dioecious deciduous tree with a powerful, well-developed root system. Trembling poplar (Latin - Pópulus trémula) grows up to 35 meters in height and lives up to 90 years. The young plant has grey-green, smooth bark. Over time, it darkens and becomes covered with small cracks. The branches are long, with small, sticky, pointed buds.

Main varieties of aspen

There are 7 varieties and one hybrid tree in the Poplar genus. These include:

• common or Eurasian;

Common aspen

• trembling or American;

“Trembling”

• large-toothed aspen;

“Coarse-toothed”

• Chinese;

“Chinese”

• Japanese;

“Japanese”

• sedge or black poplar;

“Osokor”

• white poplar

White poplar

There are many related tree species. These include laurel, hairy, fragrant, Maksimovich, Korean, Ussuri, Amur, balsam poplars, David's aspen and many others. Each of them differs in the structural features of the root system, the shape and shades of the crown, trunk, leaves and peduncles.

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Leaves

Trembling poplar (willow family) is densely covered with alternate, round, long-petioled leaves with pinnate venation. Their length is from 3 to 7 cm, the upper surface is green, the bottom is bluish, and there are uneven large teeth along the edge.

In autumn, the leaves turn bright yellow or reddish-brown. Pay attention to the trembling poplar (aspen). Even in completely calm, windless weather, its leaves are constantly in motion and trembling. This mobility is explained by flattened petioles, thinner in the center than at the edges.

Balsamic

The balsam poplar is native to Canada and North America. The usual height is 17-20 m, old fifty-year-old trees often reach a height of 30 m.

The diameter of the spreading poplar crown is 10-12 m; the thick trunk is difficult for two people to grasp, since its diameter can be up to two meters. At the base of the trunk, the bark of the plant is dark, uneven, with bursting, clumsy furrows; higher up the trunk, elastic, smooth skin of a white-gray hue begins.

The branches are covered with leaves 5-14 cm long and 4-7 cm wide. The shape of the leaves is round at the petiole and wedge-shaped, tapering to a sharp tip; the edges of the leaves are covered with finely toothed relief.

The leaf is smooth, with a cool leathery surface and a long dense petiole (2-2.5 cm), the upper part of the leaf is shiny, dark green, the color of the lower plate is gray-green, very light, the skeletal basis of the leaf structure is clearly visible from below.

The buds thrown out in the spring are large, elongated, up to 2 cm high. The buds and newly unfurled young leaves are sticky from a sticky resin coating covering them with a pleasant aroma.

A tree is considered mature only after 5 or 6 years. This poplar species is used to create living, windbreaks for fields and.

It is almost never used for landscaping cities and villages, although it looks very beautiful in group plantings consisting of a small group of trees.

Bloom

Trembling poplar (you can see the photo in the article) blooms in the last ten days of April or early May (depending on the region of growth). The tree is covered with catkins: massive male (stamen) catkins up to 15 cm long and thinner, small, pistillate female ones. Flowers of both types are simple. They lack a perianth. Male flowers have 5-8 stamens and red anthers, while female flowers have only a pistil with two stigmas. Flowering continues until the leaves completely open.

External signs of the plant

Flowers:

spots or stripes of white; main color red, brown; size more than 4 cm (inflorescences-catkins), up to 1 cm (individual flowers); spots or stripes of brown; shades of brown colors; main color green; perianth inconspicuous; size 3 cm; spots or stripes of red; catkin inflorescence.

External signs of leaves:

there is no division; round shape; leaves are simple; pubescence protruding (only on young leaves), scattered; the base is wedge-shaped, notched; round, ovoid, oval or elliptical shape; pubescence is soft or silky; the base is rounded, heart-shaped, notched; the edge is serrated.

Differences between shoots:

scattered pubescence; leaf arrangement on the shoot is alternate; shoots are erect; pubescence is soft or silky (occasionally on young shoots); placement of leaves along the length of the stem.

Fruits: color with shades of green; dry type; appendages hairs or crest; color with shades of yellow; dry box.

Botanical description

Adult leaves on the branches of mature trees are almost round, 2-8 cm in diameter, slightly wider than long, with a coarsely toothed edge and a laterally flattened petiole 4-8 cm. Leaves of young shoots and rapidly growing stems (root shoots) have different shapes , heart-shaped and almost triangular in shape. They are also often much larger, up to 20 centimeters in length; their petiole is also less flattened. The flowers are wind-pollinated catkins that bloom in early spring before the leaves appear; they are dioecious, with male and female catkins on different trees. Male earrings are colored green and brown, 5-10 centimeters long when shedding pollen; female catkins are green, 2–6 centimeters long when pollinated. The fruits ripen in early summer and bear 10–20 (50–80) capsules, each containing numerous tiny seeds covered with down. The fluff helps the wind disperse the seeds as the capsules open as they ripen.

Root system

Trembling poplar is a tree with a powerful root system. Scattered seeds begin to germinate literally after a few hours, falling on moist soil. The seed coat bursts, revealing two tiny cotyledons. After about a day, a root appears on the seed.

By autumn, the plant consists of a small stem (no more than a pencil) and a tap root, the length of which reaches 30 cm. It should be noted that trembling poplar (aspen) grows very quickly, especially in the first years. By the age of 20, the tree grows up to 10 meters, and by the age of 40 its height reaches its maximum size.

In the first years, the poplar has a more pronounced taproot. Over time, it slows down and soon stops growing altogether. During this period, the lateral processes begin to actively grow. They lie shallow, in the top layer of soil, extend quite far from the mother plant and produce abundant growth. The shoots grow rapidly - in the first year they already reach a height of 50 cm.

Duration and stages of life

On average, the lifespan of aspen is from 60 to 80 years. Under favorable growth conditions, it can live up to 100, and in rare cases, 150 years.

With age, tree wood loses its beneficial qualities. It is often affected by fungi, is prone to heart rot and becomes the target of attacks by various pests. For this reason, they are cut down at the age of 40-45.

The formation of a mature aspen tree occurs quite quickly. The first year of life is due to the rapid growth of seedlings. They are capable of reaching a height of up to 1 meter. The root system is actively developing, the shoots even grow up to 2 m. Their leaves differ significantly from those of an adult tree. They are softer, larger in size and slightly pubescent.

Rapid growth of aspen is observed for 50-60 years, then it slows down significantly. Ten-year-old plants reach a height of up to 8 meters. The foliage of the tree develops first, after which the shoots grow in length and thickness. The active growth of aspen is influenced by two main factors - the amount of precipitation and air temperature.

In autumn, the tree attracts attention with its bright palette of colors. Its leaves can be yellow, fiery red or pink. It is worth noting the specific smell that appears only in aspen trees. It is reminiscent of bitter vanilla and lasts even after the leaves have fallen.

Spreading

Trembling poplar is quite widespread. Its habitat is Eurasia, the mountainous regions of North Africa. Most of its range is in our country. In Russia, aspen is distributed almost everywhere. In the north it grows right up to the borders of the forest and tundra, in the south - to the arid steppes.

In the forest-steppe, trembling poplar forms island groves. On saline soils it can take on a bush-like form. In the Alps it grows in the mountains, at an altitude of up to 2000 meters above sea level. The tree requires light, so if other trees shade the poplar, it dies. Often aspen becomes an admixture in birch forests.

Lumber

Since aspen wood raw materials have a number of specific characteristics, they cannot be classified as universal materials that are widespread in construction and industrial production. Therefore, lumber from this tree, for the most part, has limited use.

One of the advantages of lumber is its low cost, however, this only applies to “rough” wood, which has a fairly large rejection rate of about 60-80%. For exterior work, the upper part of the tree is used, since its middle often rots during growth.

Lumber is subject to severe shrinkage and changes in volume and weight during drying, so it is not of great value as a building material.

Use of poplar

A fast-growing tree with a beautiful decorative crown is used in landscape design. Almost all of its many varieties are excellent for both single and group plantings. Everyone knows that poplar alleys are classic park landscapes.

Trembling poplar is a real air filter that has found application in urban landscaping and also as a forest-forming species. Its wood is used in many industries - in the furniture, paper and construction industries.

Excellent natural dyes are made from poplar leaves and inflorescences. Kidneys are used in folk medicine. Aspen wood is light and soft, but not very strong. Therefore, most often it is used to make household items (shovels, ladles, spoons, other dugout utensils). It is used to make plywood and wood chips (shingles), which are used in roofing production. In sparsely forested areas, poplar wood is used as a building material for the construction of outbuildings.

But we cannot help but say that it is easily attacked by fungi that cause rotting, so it is not recommended to use such material for the construction of residential buildings.

Aspen wood is widely used in the production of matches. Why did poplar attract manufacturers of much-needed products? In this case, its main advantage was taken into account - the absence of tannins and resins in the wood, which give off a smell when burned. In addition, it is very light, burns perfectly, without soot, in a dry state. Match manufacturers also appreciated the fact that poplar wood splits in the desired direction.

Aspen bark has a bitter taste, but this does not prevent it from being used as food for game animals. Moose enjoy gnawing the bark from young trees. Hares prefer to clean it from fallen trunks.

During flowering, bees collect pollen and resinous bud fluid from flowers, turning it into propolis.

Where does Aspen grow?

In nature, Aspen is found in Korea, China, as well as in Europe, Kazakhstan and almost all regions of Russia.

Despite the fact that people are accustomed to meeting Aspen in mixed forests, the tree quite often forms pure aspen forests. These groves are favorite places for mushroom pickers.

Aspens can grow in cleared areas, after fires and in ravines. Often used to strengthen slopes and landscaping parks and gardens.

The tree does not like swampy and heavily moist soil. Under such conditions, the tree quickly rots in the middle and dies.

Diseases and pests

The most common diseases of trembling poplar are some types of necrosis and wood cancer. In this case, the affected trees must be eliminated, and the remaining stumps must be treated with fuel oil and creosol.

Young poplar seedlings are sometimes subject to fungal diseases. Silvicultural and agrotechnical measures are used against them, and efforts are made to reduce soil moisture. Poplar pests are a large number of insects that lay larvae on the leaves. Insecticides are used to control pests. But before choosing the necessary drug, you need to find out exactly what pest attacked the tree.

Wood processing

Being a fairly common and accessible natural raw material, aspen lends itself well to various types of mechanical processing: sawing, cutting, peeling, planing, etc. The largest percentage of material entering processing falls on plywood-match, pulp and paper, container production and sawmilling.

Since aspen wood survives peeling and planing operations well, it is successfully used for the manufacture of plywood and matches. At the same time, it is especially highly valued in match production.

Due to the absence of resinous and aromatic secretions, aspen wood is suitable for the production of barrels and boxes. Also, this material, which has a natural white color and a sufficient length of fibers, is used for the manufacture of paper and cardboard, fiberboard, particle boards, etc.

In addition, after appropriate processing, aspen wood can serve as a raw material for hydrolysis-yeast production, the production of a petroleum fuel substitute and other purposes.

The video shows the processing of aspen waste from a match factory on a granulation line:

Medicinal properties and uses

Trembling poplar (aspen) has not yet found use in traditional medicine. And in folk medicine it has been used for a long time and very successfully. Traditional healers use bark, leaves, and buds to make medicinal preparations.

Perhaps not everyone knows that in paganism, aspen was considered a tree overflowing with vitality - its leaves always rustle, as if they were having a leisurely conversation. That is why this tree began to be considered salvation from all evil spirits. Thanks to numerous horror films and our contemporaries, it became known that it is necessary to fight vampires with the help of a wasp stake.

Traditional healers claim that preparations based on aspen (trembling poplar) have analgesic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. The buds and bark of the tree contain bitter glycosides, tannins, and benzoic acid. An alcoholic extract from poplar buds has a bactericidal effect on some types of dangerous microbes (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus). Buds are usually harvested in the spring, they are collected from young trees.

Features and value of aspen wood

Aspen is a tree (photos, descriptions and purposes of use are usually included in popular science publications) that is grown on a large scale. There are aspen plantations that are protected park areas.

Wood contains the following substances that are of great value:

• vitamins;
• tannins;
• fatty acid;
• microelements;
• carbohydrates.

The value is not only in wood. Leaves, bark and even roots contain many substances beneficial to the human body. The branches of the tree can also be used to feed animals. However, it is necessary to choose young plants whose shoots have not yet become woody.

Harm to aspen

In some southern regions, aspen is considered a pest that is effectively controlled. During the period of cutting down the main forests, aspen quickly spreads in free areas and displaces young seedlings of such a powerful crop as oaks. Therefore, many forestry enterprises are taking measures to cut down aspen trees.

After the adult plant is eliminated, a large number of young shoots appear in its place. Therefore, to completely eliminate the tree, it is necessary to uproot the roots. This procedure is very difficult to do, since the roots can spread over long distances and regularly sprout new shoots.

Decoctions

A decoction of the greenish young bark, according to doctors and reviews from their patients, has a beneficial effect on the inflamed bladder and kidneys. It’s easy to make: add 250 ml of water to a tablespoon (tablespoon) of dry crushed bark and boil the resulting mixture for fifteen minutes over low heat under a lid. Take two tablespoons (tablespoons) three times a day (before meals).

For coughs and colds, a different composition is used as a diuretic and diaphoretic. Pour one spoon of dry bark into two glasses of water and boil for half an hour. Let the product sit for at least three hours.

Treatment with aspen at home

Important! Each known disease can occur in various forms and stages, and treatment takes into account the individual characteristics of the body, so before using aspen for therapeutic purposes, consult your doctor!

Acute respiratory disease (ARI). Aspen tea, the recipe for which we described above, is excellent for treating colds. We drink this tea 4-6 times a day, adding a little honey, just remember that honey cannot be dissolved in boiling water, only in tea, at a temperature not exceeding 60 degrees. This tea normalizes temperature, relieves inflammation, stops infection, strengthens the immune system to fight germs, and its diuretic effect removes toxins from the body.

Cough. This symptom is often accompanied by various colds, but when treating especially long-term flu, bronchitis, pneumonia and others, it is better not to drink tea and decoction. Suitable for dry and wet (with phlegm) cough. For the medicine, you can use the one we have listed in the recipe section or below.

Pour a glass of boiling water over tablespoons of earrings, boil for about 40 minutes, strain, then add 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and simmer the mixture over low heat for another 5 minutes. Take 1 tablespoon of aspen syrup 4 times a day for 4-5 days.

Inflammation of the prostate gland. Alcohol tincture is used for treatment. To prepare the product, grind 1 tablespoon of aspen bark into powder and pour in 100 ml of high-quality vodka, close the container tightly and place in a dark, cool place to infuse for 14 days, shaking from time to time. Use 1 tablespoon 3 times a day.

Lack of appetite, gastritis. A decoction will do. To prepare 5 tablespoons of crushed bark, pour 250 ml of boiling water, put on the stove and simmer for 30 minutes. Then the medicine is allowed to brew and cool under the lid. Strain and drink in equal portions 3-4 times a day.

Gout. Thanks to some active substances in its composition, aspen processes and removes uric acid from the body, which is an important component in the development of gout. A decoction is suitable for the treatment of gout - pour 50 g of crushed aspen bark into 1 liter of boiling water, put on fire and bring to a boil, then simmer for about 30 minutes, leave covered to infuse and cool, drain. This decoction should be taken 50 ml every 2 hours for 10 days, then the dose is reduced to 3 doses per day, continuing for 1 month. Just remember that gout is primarily the result of poor nutrition, so avoid alcohol, very salty, and smoked foods.

Externally treat the “bone” with ointment to increase its effectiveness.

Pulmonary tuberculosis. The infusion is suitable for treatment. To prepare the folk remedy, pour 1 tablespoon of crushed aspen bark and 500 ml of boiling water into a thermos, let it brew for 12 hours. Then strain the infusion and drink half in small sips in the morning and the other half in the evening.

Diabetes. Teas, infusions and decoctions are suitable for normalizing blood sugar levels and normalizing metabolism. We described all the recipes above in the article, or in an abbreviated version:

• Tea from aspen leaves - drink 2-3 times a day 15 minutes before meals;
• Infusion of aspen buds (30 g of raw material per 600 ml of tea leaves, boiling water in a thermos) - drink 100 ml twice a day;
• A decoction of twigs or crushed bark (20 g of raw material per 700 ml of boiling water) - drink 50 ml before meals.

It's up to you to decide what you prefer, but remember that these measures can dramatically reduce your sugar levels to a minimum, so keep an eye on this level and consult your doctor.

High blood pressure (hypertension). The classic recipe for infusing earrings from this tree is suitable for treatment. During an attack of illness, drink 100 ml of infusion 2-3 times a day. If blood pressure regularly rises, prescribe 50 ml 3 times a day for 1 month.

Eczema, ulcers, burns, rheumatism and joint pain. Aspen ointment is good for treating these diseases and ailments. Mix 10 grams of crushed aspen bark and 40 grams of Vaseline or ghee to make an ointment. Apply ointment to the affected area.

Arthritis, rheumatism. Tincture and vodka ointment are used to relieve symptoms during exacerbation. The main effect is warming, anti-inflammatory and analgesic. In the evening, apply a compress from the tincture to clean skin for 30 minutes, then apply aspen ointment to the inflamed areas.

Mushrooms. Alcohol tincture is successfully used in the treatment of fungal infections of the fingers and toes. To prepare 1.5 tablespoons of aspen catkins, pour 100 ml of pure alcohol, cover the container and leave for 21 days of infusion in a dark, cool place, shaking the tincture from time to time. To treat with tincture, areas affected by the fungus are treated 2 times a day, morning and evening.

Use foot baths to treat fungal infections. To prepare, pour 2 liters of boiling water into half a glass of aspen catkins and half a glass of plant leaves, leave covered for about 20-30 minutes, and when the infusion has cooled to a comfortable temperature, pour into the pool, followed by immersing the affected feet in the product for twenty minutes. After the procedure, dry your feet and put on clean socks. The duration of treatment is 20 days.

Decoction of leaves

A very effective vitamin decoction is prepared from aspen leaves. To do this, you will need one part of dry crushed leaves, which must be poured with four parts of boiling water. The mixture is brought to a boil and left on low heat for fifteen minutes. Then you need to cool it, add a few drops of lemon and take a tablespoon four times a day.

You need to know that a decoction from leaves collected in the fall contains almost half as much vitamin C as from spring and even summer foliage.

Chemical composition of aspen

Aspen bark - composition

• Vitamins - C (ascorbic acid), A (retinol), E (tocopherol), K, PP, B vitamins.
• Macro- and microelements (mg per 1 g of aspen bark) - nitrogen (4.45), phosphorus (0.151), potassium (2.05), calcium (5.8), magnesium (0.39), boron (0.018) , iron (0.17), silicon. (0.015), manganese (0.114), copper (0.0172), sodium (0.0875), zinc (0.207).
• The rest are carbohydrates (sucrose, fructose, glucose), fatty acids (arachidic, lauric, caprylic, bezylylic), aromatic acids, tannins, glycosides (salicylic acid, populin), phenol glycosides.
• Calorie content: 469.5 kcal per 100 g of bark.

Aspen leaves - composition

• Vitamins: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin P.
• Macro- and microelements.
• The rest are carbohydrates (glucose, raffinose), organic acids, anthocyanins, tannins, phenol glycosides.

Aspen buds - composition

• Vitamins - vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin P.
• Macro- and microelements.
• The rest are carbohydrates (fructose, raffinose), triglycerides of phenolic carboxylic acids, aromatic acids, tannins.

Bark tincture

Traditional healers from different countries recommend that patients suffering from prostate hypertrophy take an alcohol tincture. Pour five tablespoons of dry bark into 0.5 liters of vodka and leave to infuse in a dark place for two weeks. An important detail is that the young bark should be collected in early spring, when it still has a greenish color.

Take this composition one dessert spoon twice a day, before meals. In this way you can infuse the kidneys. A tincture of them is taken twenty drops three times a day.

Collection and storage

In general, you can buy aspen bark, leaves and earrings at the pharmacy; They are inexpensive, already dried and ready to use.

If you want to prepare yourself, it's worth reading the information below.

Wood intended for harvesting should be located in an environmentally friendly place - as far as possible from roads and enterprises. The best time to harvest is early spring, when there is sap on the trees.

It is best to collect bark from branches rather than from a stump, making small oblong cuts. The leaves are best collected in summer when they are green and dense. Leaves and bark should be dried only on paper or cotton cloth - without microwaves, ovens or other dryers. The branches are harvested in the spring - they can be dried in the oven, but at a temperature not exceeding 40 ° C.

Aspen should be stored in tightly closed glass containers or in cotton bags, but in dry places so that the raw material does not absorb moisture and spoil.

Ointments

Medicinal ointments are also prepared from poplar buds, which help nursing mothers get rid of cracked nipples. To do this, you need to mix one part of the kidneys with two parts of pork fat, grind well and cook over low heat, stirring until all the moisture is removed from the mass. The same ointment gives excellent results in the treatment of hemorrhoidal cones.

Powdered dried poplar buds mixed with high-quality butter are an excellent wound-healing and anti-inflammatory agent for non-healing ulcers and burns. The ointment is also used to soften hemorrhoids.

Doors

In addition to being used as a practical and reliable material for the interior decoration of saunas, aspen wood is used to make durable and inexpensive sauna doors.

Door leaves made from this wood have virtually no cracks and do not change their shape and geometry during operation, under constant exposure to high temperatures and humidity.

Their main advantages are:

• Affordability.
• No need for additional care and ease of working with the material (Aspen does not emit resins and can be easily processed with any cutting tool).
• Lightness, high moisture resistance, thanks to which the door made of aspen does not allow valuable and healing steam to escape from the steam room.

Since the texture of aspen is not particularly expressive, to improve the appearance of the door it is often coated with various stains and varnishes. The door leaf is usually made from selected grade wood, with a minimum of knots and defects.

To make the box, simpler and cheaper raw materials are used, since it is closed with a platband and does not stand out in the interior.

Disadvantages: darkening over time and the possibility of hidden rot.

Photos of log houses and doors made of aspen

Doors No. 1

Doors No. 2

Doors No. 3

Doors No. 4

Industrial felling of aspen

The international standard for industrial wood is called DIN 4076. Aspen wood belongs to group AS.

In Russia, industrial cutting of trees is carried out in wild forest plots, which are then restored naturally. In Western Europe, in recent decades, trees for industrial felling have increasingly been grown in nurseries. These are the so-called short-cycle forest nurseries. They grow primarily fast-growing tree species (poplar, aspen). This approach to environmental management makes it possible to preserve natural forests and grow wood of the required parameters.

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General information
Family: Botanical name: - Common aspen. Pharmaceutical: aspen bark - Cortex Popoli. Generic name: Populus tremula. Common names: gentian, Judas tree, osyka, osichina, shaker, whispering tree.

Planet: — Zodiac sign: — Element: — Deities: — Language of flowers: — Main properties: — frankness, devotion, love, protection from evil forces. Description: Dioecious root shoot tree up to 30 m high, with smooth gray bark. The buds are small, pointed, brown in color, have a sticky texture, then become covered with fine fluff, after which they become bare. The leaves vary in shape depending on which branches they are on. On long branches the leaves are long-petiolate, round or triangular-ellipsoid, coarsely cut, glabrous. On short branches, the leaves are rounded-triangular, short-pointed, jagged, glabrous or with sparse silky hairs. Staminate and pistillate flowers are collected in separate earrings. The seeds are small, black, with a fluff of white fluff. Aspen blooms in late April - early May. Lives about 80-90 years, there are centenarians with an age of up to 150 years. Prone to various types of diseases. Young trees have smooth, light green or greenish-gray bark that darkens with age. The leaves have a round or rhombic shape, reach a length of 3-7 cm, sharp or obtuse at the apex, with a rounded base, crenate edges, pinnate venation. The leaf petioles are flattened laterally in the upper part and are long, so the leaves easily oscillate when air moves. In autumn, the leaves turn different colors - from golden to red. Plants are dioecious. The flowers are rather small and inconspicuous in appearance, collected in dangling earrings. Men's earrings are reddish, up to 15 cm long, women's earrings are greenish and thinner. Aspen blooms before the leaves bloom. The fruit is a very small capsule; the seeds are equipped with a tuft of hairs - a puff. There are decorative forms with weeping and pyramidal crowns. Places of growth: Mainly grows in forest and forest-steppe zones, can often be found on the border of forest and tundra. It loves damp places, so it chooses the banks of reservoirs, forest edges, and can occasionally be found on dry sands and clearings, along ravines, swamps and in the mountains. Grows well in almost any soil. It can form both pure aspen forests and mixed forests (coniferous with pine, larch, spruce, deciduous with birch, oak, alder). In the steppes, colonies are formed from them - aspen stakes, growing from separate seedlings and reproducing through shoots of the root system; new stems in a colony may appear at a fairly large distance from the parent tree. Colonies grow over time, spreading at a rate of approximately a meter per year. Their survival rate is high, they are quite capable of surviving forest fires, thanks to the presence of a root system located deep underground. Distributed throughout Russia. Outside Russia, it is distributed in Kazakhstan, Crimea, Europe, China, Mongolia, and the Korean Peninsula.

Parts used: Aspen is a valuable medicinal plant. In this regard, almost all of its parts are used:

• Various infusions, drinks, cocktails and medicinal solutions are made from the berries;
• leaves are used to prepare decoctions and medicinal potions;
• bark (shavings) for tinctures, as well as in the form of ash for making various types of ointments;
• The most commonly used are aspen buds, which are a valuable product for the manufacture of medicines.

Collection and harvesting
Bark is harvested in early spring and only from trees to be cut down.
Usually choose non-cracked bark that is light green in color and smooth to the touch. Preference is given to it, since it is easily removed from the tree after circular and longitudinal cuts. The collected material is kept in the sun for some time, and then dried for a long time in the shade, in a dry, well-ventilated place. Leaves are collected in May–June. Dry in the shade or in a special dryer at a temperature of 50-60°C. The buds are collected before blooming and immediately begin drying in a kiln or oven. Shelf life - 3 years. Medicine:
Preparations from aspen have amazing healing properties: diaphoretic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, astringent and diuretic effects. Its therapeutic effect covers several different areas of diseases, from the common cold and fever to a restorative agent after surgery. Tincture of aspen buds is used for polyarthritis, gout, rheumatism, hemorrhoids, acute and chronic inflammation of the bladder, difficult and painful (especially during pregnancy and after surgery) urination, in case of prostate hypertrophy and as an antipyretic.

Active substances: The bark contains carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose, etc.), aromatic acids, phenol glycosides, tannins, higher fatty acids (capric, lauric, arachidic, behenic);
The kidneys contain carbohydrates (raffinose, fructose, etc.), aromatic acids, tannins and triglycerides of phenolcarboxylic acids; The leaves also contain carbohydrates, organic acids, carotenoids, vitamin C, carotene, flavonoids, phenol glycosides, anthocyanins and tannins. The buds contain glycosides (salicin and populin), mannitol, resinous substances, flavones, gallic acid, galangin, mineral salts, enzymes (amylase and oxidase), as well as essential oil (up to 6.5%), which includes isalpinin, humulene and carylphilene. Fresh leaves contain a lot of vitamin C, carotene, and essential oil. Nigricin, tannins (up to 9%), gallic acid, erizin (yellow coloring matter), and enzymes were isolated from the bark and leaves. Traditional Medicine:
Preparations based on aspen are widely used in folk medicine: A decoction based on aspen bark is used as an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diaphoretic, emollient, astringent and diuretic.
A decoction of the bark is prescribed for gastritis, diarrhea and as a means of improving appetite and functioning of the digestive tract. Infusions and decoctions of the kidneys are prescribed orally for various arthritis, gout, hemorrhoids, acute and chronic inflammation of the bladder, involuntary and painful urination (usually after major operations and during pregnancy), prostate hypertrophy and as an antipyretic in febrile conditions. Tincture of kidneys with vodka is recommended for gastritis, dysentery, cystitis and hemorrhoids. Pounded aspen buds are used externally, in the form of an ointment, for healing wounds, chronic ulcers and bruises, as well as softening hemorrhoids, rubbing for arthritis and gout. It is useful to take the tincture as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. The leaves are used for poultices (rheumatism, gout, hemorrhoids). The juice of the leaves gets rid of warts and cures lichens. Magic:
Aspen has long been considered an evil tree, which is used in dark magic and rituals. Apparently the myths and legends associated with it are to blame for this. It was forbidden to plant aspen near houses, thinking that it would bring misfortune and illness. The Slavs never planted this tree near their house; they were afraid to fall asleep in aspen groves, believing that evil spirits lived there. They didn’t even light the stove for her or use the shade. The Eastern Slavs called aspen the “devil’s tree,” around which devils hover. The witches prepared a transforming potion over a fire from aspen branches. But in addition to harm, aspen also brings benefits. For example, it helps to detect a thief. To do this, they put the thing that the thief touched into the split aspen. This causes him to develop a fever, and he immediately returns the stolen goods. Despite the fact that aspen was considered a cursed tree, due to its magical properties, it served as an excellent means of fighting evil spirits. For witches and sorcerers were burned at her cleansing bonfire in order to put them to rest forever, so that they could no longer resurrect and harm people. The aspen stake was considered one of the effective means of fighting vampires, ghouls and ghouls. Since they were considered cursed during their lifetime, they could be defeated using the principle of similarity, that is, with a “cursed” tree, which was considered to be aspen. You can also escape from an energy vampire by hiding in an aspen grove. They surrounded the garden beds with aspen pegs, wanting to protect them from the encroachments of the mole cricket.

In addition, aspen was considered a good amulet.
On Kupala or Yuryev night, domestic animals were led through aspen branches stuck into the ground. This was done so that they would not be jinxed. In the same way they protected fields from witches, vegetable gardens from moles, caterpillars and other troubles. When building houses, aspen pegs were stuck into the corner parts of the foundation, thereby protecting the house from the influence of outside magic and evil. Aspen cured toothache; all you had to do was say the spell: “On the sea on Okiyan, on the island on Buyan there are three tall trees, under those trees lies a hare; You, toothache, moved to that hare!”, for fever and much more. In direct contact with an aspen, for example, if you stand pressed against its trunk, it will help cleanse the aura of negative influences. Aspen will help get rid of obsessive thoughts and unreasonable fear. Promotes the emergence of a person’s internal healing powers. Aspen is associated with the Ehwaz rune, which is credited with wisdom, the ability to withstand any conditions, heal and even avert death. Myths and Legends:
It was believed that the cross of Jesus was made of aspen, and since then its leaves have been gripped by fear and trembling. For this, God cursed the aspen tree. That's where the name came from. Another legend says that Judas Iscariot hanged himself on an aspen tree; not a single tree agreed to accept him; only the aspen took pity on him, allowing him to commit suicide with its help. Because of this, some peoples consider aspen a cursed tree. The third legend tells that demons live in its foliage. That the aspen tree is guilty of allowing a cross to be made from its wood for the torment of Jesus, and therefore was cursed by the Mother of God and doomed to eternal fear. Therefore, its leaves tremble, but it itself does not bear fruit and cannot even cover a person with its shadow. According to another version, the aspen tree, having learned that a cross for the crucifixion would be made from it, trembled in horror with all its leaves. In addition, during the crucifixion, all the trees bowed their tops as a sign of grief and only the aspen remained straight, for which it was doomed to eternal trembling. The Lithuanian legend “Spruce is the Queen of Snakes” has its own explanation for the trembling of the aspen. The legend says that Eli’s daughter, Aspen, betrayed her mother and father, which became the reason for their death. After death, she turned into an aspen tree, and her leaves trembled with fear. Latvians explained the trembling of aspen leaves in their own way. They believed that it was caused by Veya Mata walking along the roots of the aspen tree. Morey, the god of evil and death, who shakes the aspen with his breath, was also mentioned. The Slavs believed that aspen leaves tremble out of fear before the face of the bright gods. The legend says that Veles, wanting to escape from Perun, turned into a snake. Fleeing, he crawled onto an aspen tree, but was overtaken by Perun there, which is why the aspen bark has a red color, obtained from the shed blood of Veles. It has been noticed that Perun's arrows (lightning) most often hit aspen trees. Since then, aspen is considered capable of scaring away snakes, which, as if remembering Veles, are afraid to climb the aspen. It was believed that in order to finally kill a snake it was necessary to hang it on an aspen branch. On the day of Phocas and Jonah (October 5), which was considered the beginning of autumn, Aspen allegedly tried on a mermaid dress, and remained standing in it - a mermaid ghost on the ground; On the day of Thekla-Zarevnitsa (October 7), threshing began. One of the senior threshers took a shovel carved from aspen and collected grain with it. Crossing himself to the east, he threw the grains into the wind, saying: “The first shovel is “in the name of the Father,” the second is “in the name of the Son,” the third is “and the Holy Spirit.” Then the shovels went to “grandfather”, “grandmother”, “grandchildren”, “all good people”; The expression “knuckle down”, it turns out, also has something to do with aspen. According to V. Dahl: “Aspen, f. tree Poppulus tremulus; Most of all it is used for chipped (carved and turned) wooden utensils, which is why it is also called baklusha.” – Baklushi usually called a stump for making wooden spoons and bowls.

Proverbs and sayings:

• Aspen is ugly, knotty and noisy;
• The aspen keeps whispering, damned tree;
• On aspen there is blood under the bark (and indeed, from the inside it has a reddish tint);
• One berry, bitter rowan, one tree, bitter aspen;
• Trembling like an aspen leaf;
• The aspen makes noise even without the wind;
• He grew up like an aspen tree (with a shaft), but he couldn’t stand it;
• Just as the aspen trembles, so the cattle in the field are fed;
• Maxim was basking around the aspen trees (about a rash man).

Folk signs:

• Large aspen buds mean a barley harvest;
• Aspen in catkins (blooms well) - harvest for oats;
• The fluff has flown from the aspen tree - go into the forest for aspen boletuses;
• The aspen leaves fall and gives way to autumn.

Recipes, infusions, decoctions:
For gastritis, cystitis, hemorrhoids and dysentery, aspen buds can be used in the form of a tincture: 50 g of dry raw material per 0.5 liter of vodka, take 20-30 drops 3 times a day.
An infusion of the bark of young trees and branches (3 tablespoons of crushed raw materials per 200 ml of boiling water, boil for 15 minutes, leave until cool, drink everything in 3 doses before meals) is considered an effective remedy for prostate adenoma and prostatitis. A decoction of the bark is recommended for gastritis, dyspepsia and as a means to improve appetite and digestion. It is prepared in the same way as the infusion, only you need to boil it for half an hour. There is evidence that aspen bark helps with pulmonary tuberculosis. 1 tablespoon of young aspen bark is poured into a thermos with 1/2 liter of boiling water and left overnight. The portion is divided into 2 parts. Drink morning and evening for a long time. Crushed fresh or steamed dry leaves are used for poultices for rheumatism and gout, and the juice squeezed from them is used to lubricate ringworms and warts. For external use, prepare a more concentrated tincture (1:5) and ointment (1 part powdered buds to 4 parts butter or Vaseline). The ointment is used to treat festering wounds, chronic ulcers, burns, to soften hemorrhoidal cones, rubbing for gout and rheumatism; tincture - as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent. From the ash obtained by burning aspen wood, an ointment for eczema is prepared with butter (in equal proportions). To make an ointment, take 1 part of the raw material, ground into a fine powder, to 4 parts butter or petroleum jelly. Rub joints for gout and rheumatism. At the same time, you can use a 40% tincture for the same purpose (the ratio of buds or bark and vodka is 1:5). Use in cooking:
Aspen, as such, is not used in cooking, since its use is somewhat different. It is a very valuable remedy. Sometimes infusions and decoctions from aspen buds are used. In cooking, they do not use parts of aspen, but liquid smoke made from natural aspen smoke (other valuable tree species are also used, such as alder or apple). The smoke is cleaned of impurities and resins and mixed with water. Liquid smoke obtained by burning aspen is used

• for flavoring soups, gravies, roasts and other dishes. The dishes look like they were cooked over a forest fire (on an open fire).
• for preparing real smoked delicacies at home, using a conventional oven or microwave (for Muggles).
• for preparing fish and meat marinades. Using “Liquid Smoke” will reduce the amount of salt and extend the shelf life of food.
• for preparing barbecue and grill sauces.

Culinary recipes using liquid aspen smoke: “Smoked herring.” Thawed fish is placed in dense layers in a 2-3 liter jar, sprinkled with salt and spices and closed tightly. “Liquid Smoke” is poured there at a rate of 50 grams per 1 kg of herring. The jar is periodically turned over. Smoking lasts 2 days, after which the fish is dried for another 12 hours.

“Smoked Hams.” Chicken legs are lowered into a pan, and a solution (Liquid Smoke in proportion with water 1:5, salt and spices to taste) is poured into it so that it covers the meat. Cook over low heat for 40 minutes, fry in the oven until cooked, after which the finished legs are dried.

What is the difference between aspen and poplar

If necessary, it is quite possible to distinguish aspen from poplar by certain characteristics, for example:

1. At the beginning of the autumn period, a branch with buds that have not yet awakened is picked from aspen and poplar. Their lower part must be immersed in water in a glass. The poplar will be the first to begin to grow and open its adhesive leaf plates. The aspen branch begins to grow later, and its foliage does not have such a noticeable shine.
2. The aspen is the first to bloom, and the poplar a little later. In this case, only on the poplar branch will a large amount of fluff be formed.
3. Poplar has short leaf petioles, while aspen has longer leaf petioles, and they can easily be tied into a knot.
4. Poplar branches are distinguished by their elasticity, which makes them extremely difficult to break. Aspen branches are more fragile, and breaking them will not be difficult.
5. The foliage of these trees has a lot of similarities. However, the shape of the poplar leaf blades is more elongated and more pointed at the top.

How to distinguish aspen from birch by bark (herbal science school - answers to questions

Beliefs associated with aspen

Among the Slavs, aspen was considered a cursed tree. According to one view, God's curse was imposed on aspen because the cross on which Christ was crucified, the nails with which he was nailed to it, as well as the “knitting needles” that Christ’s tormentors drove under his nails were made from it. According to others, the aspen was punished because the trembling of its leaves betrayed the Virgin Mary, who was hiding under it with the infant Christ during the flight to Egypt.

The Eastern Slavs also have a popular belief that Judas hanged himself from an aspen tree. It was he who made the aspen leaves tremble. At the same time, aspen was widely used in the rituals of the Eastern Slavs as a talisman. For example, when building a house, aspen pegs were stuck in the corner of the foundation, which were supposed to protect the house from harm. Protecting himself from the devil, a man caught in the forest at night went to bed in a circle drawn on the ground with an aspen stick.

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