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_02.jpg/1280px-Aspen_(Populus_tremuloides)_02.jpg)
NAME: American Aspen
SPECIES / FAMILY: Populus Tremuloides / Salicaceae
OTHER COMMON NAME(S): quaking aspen, trembling aspen, mountain or golden aspen, trembling poplar, white poplar, popple
CONDITIONS:
sun-partial shade
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EDIBLE |
TASTE |
RAW/COOK |
SEASON |
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All |
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Shoots |
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Leaves |
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Stalk/Stem |
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Buds |
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Flowers |
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RAW/COOK |
Spring |
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Fruits |
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Pods |
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Seeds |
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Nuts |
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Roots |
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Bark |
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RAW/COOK |
Spring |
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Sap |
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RAW/COOK |
early Spring |
catkins
PORTION: small
COMMENT: Flowers; Inner bark; Sap. Inner bark - raw or cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a flour. This is normally mixed with other flours for making bread etc and can also be used as a thickener in soups. It is best used in the spring. Sap - can be tapped and used as a drink. It has also been used as a flavouring with wild strawberries. Catkins - raw or cooked. Bitter.(1)
CAUTION: Aspen bark contains a substance that was extracted by indigenous North Americans and European settlers of the western U.S. as a quinine substitute.(3) Possible toxic effects due to salicylates (e.g. heartburn, tinnitus). Avoid with ulcers, stomach or peptic ulcers.(1)
NUTRITION/MEDICINAL: Alterative; Anodyne; Anti-inflammatory; Astringent; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Febrifuge; Nervine; Poultice; Salve; Stimulant.(1)
LOOK-A-LIKES:
POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES:
OTHER USES: Pioneer; Wood. A fast-growing tree, it rapidly invades bare areas such as logged woodland and soon establishes dense stands of young trees by sending up suckers. It provides excellent conditions for other species of trees to become established and these will eventually out-compete the poplar. The bark has been used to make hats. The bark has sometimes been used for cordage.(1)
SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):