The Diversiform-leaved Poplar, also known as Hutong, is an ancient variety of poplar with its emergence dating back to more than 60 million years ago, and is therefore called "the living fossils of the Tertiary".  The Diversiform-leaved Poplar is a deciduous tree which, when mature, can reach over 15 meters high, some even exceeding 30 meters with a trunk diameter measuring as much as 2 meters.

The Diversiform-leaved Poplar has a remarkable tolerance for drought and saline-alkaline in the desert.  The roots grow over 10 meters into the ground to absorb moisture.  The cells of the tree also have a special ability to withstand alkaline water.

The Diversiform-leaved Poplar is a unique and precious forest resource peculiar to desert regions.  It plays a very important role in stabilizing the eco-balance of river banks in deserts by warding off wind and sand, adjusting green land climate, resulting in the formation of rich forest soil.  Moreover, as the oldest species of poplar trees on the planet, it carries important scientific value in the research of climate change of desert regions, how rivers altered their courses, evolution of plants, as well as economical and cultural development of ancient countries.

Diversiform-leaved Poplar trees mainly grow in 20 countries, including China，Mongolia, and the Mediterranean region.  In China, nearly 90 percent of those are located in the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang.  The 3 million-plus Mu of Diversiform-leaved Poplar forest along the banks of the Tarim River is the largest virgin forest of its kind in the world.  The Diversiform-leaved Poplar trees around the Taklimakan desert formed a corridor-like forest belt to stabilize the shifting sand dunes and moderate the climate of the Tarim Basin, thus achieving significant effect on land protection.

You will never know how vast the world is until you see the desert; you will never know how great life could be until you see the Diversiform-leaved Poplar. Yes, the trees have extremely strong vitality, as testified by a poem: The Diversiform-leaved Poplar can live for one thousand years, when dead it will not fall down for one thousand years, when fallen down, it will not rot away for yet another one thousand years ".

Source：
http://travel.sina.com.cn 

Photo / Tina Tan