Populus grandidentata
Bigtooth Aspen
A bright orange-yellow oval leaf with a toothed edge makes quite an impression on the autumn forest floor. This is the leaf of the Bigtooth Aspen, which can be distinguished from its kin the Quaking Aspen by the size of its “teeth” or the grooves along the edge of the leaf. As you might imagine, the teeth are bigger on the Bigtooth Aspen. Its bark is also more deeply furrowed with a distinct orange color visible on the bark of older trees. Another of the pioneer species, Bigtooth Aspen establishes on recently cleared areas and abandoned fields. Bigtooth Aspen provides important habitat for many birds including Ruffed Grouse, Very and the Canada Warbler. It is also a host plant for several caterpillars such as the Tiger Swallowtail and the White Admiral. Unlike species such as Sugar Maple, which can represent a majority of the trees in any given area of forest, this Aspen usually occurs in smaller numbers and is more sparsely distributed.