The Balsam Poplar/Black Cottonwood, or the Populus Balsamifera Trichocarpa/ Balsamifera has large sticky buds which are very fragrant. The Balsam Poplar can grow up to 25 meters in height while the Black Cottonwood can grow up to 50 meters in height. It's bark is smooth and yellowish grey in colour. The bark grows thicker and deeply grooved as it ages. The flowers or Catkins on this tree are separated by gender (male and female grow on separate trees). The female Catkins tend to grow longer (8-20 centimeters) while males grow shorter (2-3 centimeters). The fruit in these trees are hairy capsules with fluffy white-haired seeds inside. Its wood is used to build canoes, cradles, sideboards and for fuel for fire. After it’s used for fuel the ashes are used for a hair cleanser. The inside of the trunk was used to make soap and the resin from the buds was used in many medicines for sore throats, coughs, lung pain and rheumatism. An ointment was also made to relieve congestion and this tree is still being used to make ointments today. It's also being used in the fabrication of tissues and other paper products.