NEN Gallery

Also know as Balm of Gilead, this is one of the most confusiong group of trees. It is known as Balsam polars because of the powerful smell emitted by the fat sticky buds in spring that can be smelt from quite a distance. A very fast growing, often planted tree, it has a small neat crown. It has greyish cracked bark and its stout twigs are hairy and slightly angled. The leaves are pale green above and yellowish below. The are hairy on the viens below and ace of cards shaped. It is a hybrid and has no male catkins, only long female ones. It reporduces by suckering. Picture taken near Ampthill 17 April 2006.