Balsam Poplar

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, US, US(Amerindian)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Astringent, Bite(Snake), Cholera, Depurative

Science studied: AZELAINIC-ACID, BISABOLENE, CAFFEIC-ACID, CINEOLE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Salicaceae

Scientific name: Populus balsamifera

Common names: Balsam Poplar, Balsam kavağı, Balsam-Pappel, Balsam-Pappel (DE), Balsampappel, Balzaminė tuopa, Bam Tree, Eastern Balsam-Poplar, Eastern Balsam-poplar, Eastern Balsam-poplar (EN), Echte Balsam-Pappel, Ontario Balsam Poplar, Ontariopopulier, Peuplier Baumier, Peuplier baumier, Poplys Balmaidd y Dwyrain, Poplysen Falmaidd y Dwyrain

POWO: 776600-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in China, US, US(Amerindian).

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Astringent
• Bite(Snake)
• Cholera
• Depurative
• Diarrhea
• Dysentery
• Expectorant
• Gout

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• China
• US
• US(Amerindian)

Documented cultural uses

• Astringent
• Bite(Snake)
• Cholera
• Depurative
• Diarrhea
• Dysentery
• Expectorant
• Gout
• Inflammation
• Kidney
• Parasiticide
• Rheumatism

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Astringent · China · "
• Bite(Snake) · US · "
• Cholera · China · "
• Depurative · US · "
• Diarrhea · China · "
• Dysentery · China · "
• Expectorant · US · "
• Gout · US · "
• Inflammation · China · "
• Kidney · US · "
• Parasiticide · China · "
• Rheumatism · US · "
• Scurvy · US · "
• Stimulant · US · "
• Stomach · US · "
• Styptic · China · "
• Vermifuge · China · "
• Lung · US · "
• Caries · China · "
• Eye · China · "
• Fracture · US · "
• Skin · China · "
• Tumor · US(Amerindian) · "
• Wound · China · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• TPS5 and TOR signaling components are determinants of <i>Populus balsamifera</i> leaf morphology. · 2025 source ↗
• Elevated CO₂ Modifies Within‐Species Differences in Relative Drought Resistance With Implications for Recovery in Populus balsamifera · 2026 source ↗
• Antiviral Activity of Essential Oil from <i>Populus balsamifera</i> L. Buds and Its Major Compounds Against Betacoronavirus HCoV-OC43 Using a Sensitive Cytoprotection Assay. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• AZELAINIC-ACID
• BISABOLENE
• CAFFEIC-ACID
• CINEOLE
• CINNAMIC-ACID
• AR-CURCUMENE
• 2',6'-DIOXY-4'-METHOXY-BETA-PHENYLPROPIOPHENONE
• 11-EICOSANIC-ACID
• GENTISIC-ACID-BENZYLESTER
• N-HEPTACOSANE
• 3-HYDROXY-5-PHENYLVALERIC-ACID
• LIGNOCERIC-ACID-ESTER
• N-NONACOSANE
• OLEIC-ACID-ESTER
• PALMITIC-ACID-ESTER
• N-PENTACOSANE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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