244 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



The leaves are round in their outline, about two inches long 

 and of equal breadth, somewhat heart-shaped at base, abruptly 

 acuminate, with a wavy, toothed border, covered with soft silk 

 when young, which remains only as a fringe on the edge at 

 maturity ; supported by a very slender footstalk about as long- 

 as the leaf, and compressed laterally from near the base. They 

 are thus agitated by the slightest breath of wind, with that 

 quivering, restless motion, characteristic of all the poplars, but 

 in none so striking as this. In this respect, it bears a near re- 

 semblance to the European tree, after which it is named, and 

 which has given occasion to so many poetical and satirical allu- 

 sions ; whose leaves Gerard compares to women's tongues, 

 "which seldom cease wagging;" and Homer, to give us an 

 idea of the activity of Penelope's maidens at the loom, says, — 



" Their busy ringers move 

 Like poplar leaves when zephyr fans the grove ; " 



and, best of all, Walter Scott, in his lines, — 



" Oh, woman ! in our hours of ease 

 Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, 

 And variable as the shade 

 By the light quivering aspen made, 

 When pain er- sickness rends- the brow,/>'/' 

 A ministering angel thou." 



The foliage appears lighter than that of most other trees, from 

 continually displaying the under surface of the leaves. The 

 stipules are small, lanceolate, silky, transient. On the sprouts 

 which spring from the roots of this poplar, the leaves are often 

 many times larger than those of the tree, and so differently 

 shaped, as to lead one not familiar with them to think he has 

 found a new species. 1 believe the same thing is true of several 

 other species of poplar. 



The wood is soft, white, fine-grained, light, and very perish- 

 able when exposed to the weather. It is deficient in strength, 

 and is not much used, but might serve well for floors, as it has 

 a good color, and is not liable to splinter when bruised. 



The bark is excessively bitter, with a taste precisely like 

 quinine, to which it has an intimate resemblance in its properties. 



This tree is found in Canada, as far north as 64°, and thence 



