Biological Name: Populus nigra
Origins / Native Range: Europe, western Asia, and North Africa.
Interesting Facts:
• One of Europe’s rarest native timber trees due to habitat loss.
• Has distinctive dark, deeply fissured bark.
• Provides important habitats for insects and birds.
• Historically used for making matches and clogs because the wood doesn’t easily splinter.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable in many regions due to wetland drainage and hybridization.