Question
Mystery Leaf
QUESTION: Hi There, Can you tell me what kind of tree I have by identifying the attached picture? From what I gather, it may be a broadleaf, smooth/serrate margin... something or other :)
ANSWER: My first thought is this tree is Liriodendron tulipifera,commonly known as the American tulip tree, tulip poplar or yellow-poplar, Here is a web link to pictures of yellow-poplar. Young leaves sometimes do not have the deep lobes but I think I can see some in the picture you sent. If this is not the tree then write back with a little more information on the location and a picture of the individual leaves and the bark would help.
http://forestry.about.com/od/hardwoods/ss/tuliptree.htm
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QUESTION: The bark is darkish towards the bottom of the tree and has more than one "trunk".(leaders?)Then the bark gets whitish as you go up. The leaves do not look lobed to me, but like you say, it is early. The leaves are "silvery" or light green underneath and have a rounded/smooth margin.
ANSWER: White poplar,Populus alba
Look at these pictures of white poplar and see if they seem to match. If not what part of the world is this tree located??
http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/popu_alb.cfm
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Bark & Trunk
QUESTION: I am sorry, I forgot to tell you that the tree is located in Oklahoma (zone 7)in the United States. I agree that it could be some kind of Populus but not convinced of the White Poplar idea. I've attached another picture to help you again. Thanks Jim! Melanie
AnswerI put the pictures on a Forestry Forum site and asked the Foresters there and got the same answer White Poplar. One of the Foresters who is very good at tree ID said there was a Grey Poplar that had more grey under the leaves than White Poplar. I looked it up and it is a hybrid White.
They also cautioned that White poplar roots will get in the sewer lines And the tree sprouts easily making it spread in a yard.
I guess I am going to stay with the White or possibly Grey Poplar.
