Help Please! ID needed

[fay]

Hi,

I am new on here and this is my very first post. I cycle to work every day, and I have been puzzling over this really strong heady scent that I smell every Spring. Today for the first time I identified the source of the smell. It is a tree, really tall, with small pointed leaves that have a sticky residue and an overwhelmingly sweet scent. I have looked on the internet and in my tree book; but so far nothing that matches.

The tree does not appear to be flowering. I don't often see them. Not sure that it is very common, but I would love to know what it is.

thanks for any help or suggestions



Fay

[Tiggrx]

Probably some sort of Balsam-poplar. The scent comes from the unfurling leaves.

[glsammy]

Welcome to WAB Fay, I've no idea what the tree may be others will..

[fay]

Tigg and Glammy, thanks a lot for your replies/welcome. I shall have another look at the books and check out a balsam Poplar. The tree was certainly very tall.

Fay

[Alan]

Hello Fay, and a very warm welcome to WAB. Hope to hear more from you

[fay]

Thanks again everyone. Following a bit of research it looks like it is a Western Balsam Poplar, which has a sticky secretion with a heady scented smell.

I don't think I would have found out without your help!

[Mark43]

Thought i would just say hello also

[nightshade]

Hello,Fay the tree that is giving off a heady scent at the moment near me is a laurel like tree with what appears at a distance to be white candles of flowers I have no idea what it is but just enjoy it!,your poplar is a new one on me but it sounds great welcome to the site

[fay]

thanks for the welcome Mark. Nightshade, I have really enjoyed the scent of the poplar for several years now, but felt intruiged enough to find out what it was. For a while I couldn't even track down which shrub or bush was giving off the scent. I didn't realise it was a tree until a few days ago!