The name of various oleoresins allied to elemi; balsam is exuded by different species of trees found in East India, Africa, Brazil and Siberia. Our Balsam poplar is found in northern parts of the United States and Canada.

This tree attains a height of 50–70 ft., with a trunk about 18 inches in diameter. The branches are smooth, round and deep brown. The leaves are ovate, gradually tapering and dentate, deep-green above and smooth on both sides. In America the leaf buds are in bloom in April, and this is the official part and time for collection. They have an agreeable, incense-like odour and an unpleasant, bitterish taste. The balsamic juice is collected in Canada in shells and sent to Europe under the name of Tacamahaea.

The Populus balsamifera is generally confused with the Populus canadensis, from whose buds we get the virtues known as the Balm of Gilead; but it is much the superior tree for medical purposes.

Plant description

Balsam trees measures 30 to 60 meters tall with straight, branch free trunk for more than half its length, forming a broad, open crown in open sites. Bark is gray to gray brown on mature trees which are deeply furrowed into flat ridges on older portions. Leaves are deciduous, alternate, simple, ovate-lanceolate to deltate but variable in size and shape on same tree. Flowers are male and female on separate trees which borne in pendent catkins. Fruits are globular capsules about 3-4 mm long which splits to release seeds about 2 mm long with tuft of long, white and silky hairs which are easily blown by the wind.

Leaves

Leaves are simple, alternate, ovate, finely serrated and shiny dark green, paler and often blotchy orange below and petioles are long with glands at the leaf base.

Flowers

Flowers are dioecious, male and female are hanging, long pale yellow green catkins appears in May.

Fruit

Flowers give way to small, 2 valved and dry capsule which contains numerous small seeds. Capsules are lustrous green during development and turns dull green at the time of dispersal. Male flowers shed promptly and decay. Female catkins are shed shortly after dispersal is completed.

Facts About Balsam Poplar

Balsam poplar Quick Facts
Name:	Balsam poplar
Scientific Name:	Populus balsamifera

Name	Balsam poplar
Scientific Name	Populus balsamifera
Common/English Name	Balsam Poplar, Black cottonwood, Common black cottonwood, Western balsam poplar, Balsam cottonwood, California poplar, Bam, Eastern balsam-poplar, Bamtree, Hackmatack, Tacamahac poplar, Tacamahaca, Cottonwood, Heartleaf balsam poplar
Name in Other Languages	German: Balsam-Pappel, Balsampappel, Echte Balsam-Pappel; Lithuanian: Balzaminė tuopa; English: Eastern Balsam-poplar, Balsam poplar, Bamtree, Eastern balsam poplar, Hackmatack, Tacamahac poplar
Plant Size	25 m tall
Bark	Dark furrowed
Flowering Season	April and May

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