Populus Tremuloides (Quaking aspen)

Scientific Name
Populus tremuloides

Trade Name
Quaking aspen

Family Name
Salicaeae

Common Names
Alamo tremblon, Aspe, Aspen, Canadian aspen, Espe, Peuplier tremble, Quaking aspen, Trembling aspen, Zitterpappel

Regions of Distribution
Central America, North America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Canada, Mexico, United States

Common Uses
Bearings & bushings, Beehives, Boxes and crates, Brooders, Building construction, Cabin construction, Casks, Clothespins, Construction, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, Jewelry box, Matchboxes, Matches, Musical instruments, Packing cases, Pallets, Particleboard, Plywood, Poultry coops, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rough construction, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Veneer

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
Quaking or Trembling aspen is considered to be the most widely distributed tree in North America. It grows from Alaska to Newfoundland and southward to Virginia. It also occurs in the Rocky Mountains, extending south to southern Arizona and northern New Mexico. It grows from near sea level to an elevation of 6500 to 10,000 feet (1981 to 3048 m) throughout its range. The tree often occurs in pure stands, and grows in many soil types, especially sandy and gravelly slopes.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Durability

Odor

Kiln Schedules

Wet streaks.
Wet streaks.

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

Deriving its name from its leaves which are inclined to tremble in the slightest breeze, Trembling or Quaking aspen. The twigs and foliage of the tree are eaten by deer, elk, and moose, as well as sheep and goats. Beavers, rabbits, and other mammals are also reported to feed on the bark, foliage, and buds, and winter buds are a food source for grouse and quails.

Product Sources
Wood produced by Trembling and Bigtooth aspens are difficult to differentiate and are mixed and marketed together under the trade name Aspen.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory

Tension wood often present

Blunting Effect

Boring

Average number of bored pieces reported to produce good to excellent holes = 78).

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Abrasion

Resistance to Impregnation

Resistance to Splitting

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Crotches are occasionally available which are used to produce veneers with attractive mottled figure and streaks of pink, orange and golden colors.

Steam Bending

Painting

Polishing

Staining

Strength Properties

Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium

Numerical Data

References
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: – No.7 North America,TRADA

Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods – Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada.

Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London

Constantine, Jr., A.J. 1975. Know Your Woods – A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised by H.J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York.

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London.

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California.

Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees – Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.

Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479

Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition

Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

Perala, D.A. and Carpenter, E.M.,1985,American Woods – Aspen,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-217

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7

Thomas, A.V.,1953,The timber of Upun Batu (Upuna borneensis,Malaysian Forester 16(3, 163-5

U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72

USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin.

USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operator’s Manual – Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin