Name: Populus tremuloides. Also called quaking aspen because of the interesting noise that is produced when blown by the wind. This noise is thanks to the aspen's flattened, yet flexible petioles.

Description: Small to medium-sized tree with slender trunk and pyramidal to round crown of spreading branches with sparse foliage.  The flower is long drooping catkin brownish in color and the fruit is long pointed oblong capsule light green in color.

Global Distribution: It has the widest geographical distribution of any North American tree, being indigenous to Alaska and most of Canada, the Pacific Northwest, New England, the Great Lakes and south in the Rockies to New Mexico and Arizona.

Uses: Quaking aspen is one of the most important timber trees in the East. Its wood is soft and light with little shrinkage and it is used for boxes, pallets, plywood and more.  It is also used for paneling and furniture which further highlights its economical importance. 

Interesting Trivia: Native Americans used the bark as a food source. It would be cut into strips, dried, ground up with other starches for bread and other foods. The tree has also been widely used in ornamental landscaping. 

Note: The tree is very important for wildlife. Mule, white-tailed deer and other mammals forage the leaves. A variety of birds use the tree as hiding, nesting and overwintering.