Populus maximowiczii

Populus maximowiczii (Japanese Poplar, Asian Poplar, Maximowicz's Poplar) is a species of flowering plant in the Salicaceae family. It is endemic to northeast Asia, in Russia, China, Korea, and Japan.

Description
The Japanese Poplar is a deciduous, dioeceous tree reaching up to 100 ft (30 m) tall. The bark is greenish-white in color, but with age will turn gray and fissure. The leaves are alternate and leathery, reaching 7-15 cm long. Because it is a dioeceous tree, separate individuals are male and female. The flowers of both genders are green without petals and hang on cylindrical catkins. The fruit is a capsule with fluffy seeds.

Uses
The wood of the Japanese Poplar is used in making matchsticks, boxes, and pulp, and exclusively in Japan for stabilizing stream banks and stand.

It is commonly cultivated, being used in the Netherlands in parks, and used to create hybrids of Populus interamericana.

Diseases
The Japanese Poplar is very resistant to poplar rust (Melampsora larici-populina), but is susceptible to leaf spot disease (Marsonina brunnea) and canker (Xanthomonas populi).

Naming
The species was named in honor of Russian botanist, Carl Maximowicz.

Book sources

 * Trees, pg. 169