This　study　aims　to　investigate　the　relationship　between　the　anatomical　features　and　the　mechanical　behavior　of　poplar　wood　and　reveal　the　deformation　mechanism　of　hardwood　under　transverse　compression.　We　conducted　a　transverse　compression　test　of　the　poplar　wood,　a　typical　diffuse　porous　wood,　under　uniaxial,　laterally　restrained,　and　circumferentially　restrained　conditions.　Subsequently,　a　finite　element　model　was　developed　based　on　SEM　images　of　poplar　wood.　Finally,　the　deformation　mechanism　of　the　wood　was　analyzed　based　on　the　test　and　modeling　results.　This　study　is　helpful　for　understanding　the　mechanism　of　poplar　wood　under　transverse　compression　and　the　development　of　constitutive　models　based　on　its　mechanism.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.