T'aghes lats'iigi

T'aghes lats'iigi, balsam poplar buds, are swelling on sunny hillsides and river bars. Their resinous, amber-colored scales release a sharp, balsamic fragrance that carries on the air. Like, k'ay' (willow), male and female flowers appear on separate trees. The dangling catkins emerge just before or alongside the first leaves. The female catkins have reddish fringe-like pistils that eventually form fruits and release fluffy seeds in late June. Many people and insects collect the resin from t'aghes lats'iigi for its antimicrobial properties.

In Ahtna:

T'ahes lats'iigi, pronounced taw-wess lots-see-gee, balsam poplar buds, Populus balsamifera