25 1 AMENTACEjE. [Fagus. 



the people, as it was esteemed to be in the time of the 

 Romans and of the French revolution. 



Dicecia. Octandria. 



1. P. alba, Linn. Great White Poplar or Abele. Leaves 

 roundish, cordate, lobed, toothed, glabrous above, downy and 

 very white beneath ; fertile catkins ovate ; stigmas four. Br. 

 Fl. 1. p. 436. E. Fl. v. iv. p. 243. E. Bot. £.1618. 



Natural woods near Blarney, County of Cork ; Mr. J. Drummond. 

 Fl. April. 1? . — A large tree, with smooth bark and spreading 

 branches ; of very rapid growth. The icood is white and soft, and 

 used only for coarse purposes. 



2. P. tremula, Linn. Aspen. Leaves nearly orbicular, 

 broadly toothed, glabrous on both sides; stalks compressed; 

 stigmas four, erect, auricled at the base. Br. Fl. 1. p. 437. 

 E. Fl. v. iv. p. 244. E. Bot. t. 1809. 



Kelly's Glen, County of Dublin. Agnew's Hill, and other places in 

 the counties of Antrim and Derry ; Mr. Templeton and Mr. D. Moore. 

 Blarney woods ; Mr. J. Drummond. Fl. March, April. T? . — This 

 tree is well known by the tremulous movement of its leaves with the 

 slightest breath of wind. The motion is aided by the compression of 

 the stalk. 



3. P. nigra, Linn. Black Poplar. Leaves deltoid, acute, 

 serrated, glabrous on both sides ; fertile catkins cylindrical, lax; 

 stigmas four. Br. FL 1. p. 437. E. Fl. v. iv. p. 245. E. 

 Bot. *. 1910. 



Common in plantations, scarcely indigenous. Fl. April. T? . — A 

 large tree of quick growth, having a light wood of little value, as is the 

 case with most trees that come soon to perfection. 



§ 3. Cupulifera:. Richard. 



Flowers monoecious. Barren ones amentaceous. Stamens 

 5 — 20, inserted into the centre of the scales of the perianth, 

 generally distinct. Fertile Fl. aggregate or amentaceous. 

 Perianth adnate with the ovary, with a small toothed limb, and 

 with a coriaceous involucre (cupule) at the base, variously 

 formed. Ovary with two or several cells and several ovules, 

 the greater number of which are abortive : stigmas several, 

 nearly sessile, distinct. Pericarp (glands) bony or coriaceous, 

 1-celled, more or less enclosed in the enlarged involucre. Seed 

 solitary or 2 — 3, pendulous, without albumen. Embryo large, 

 with plano-convex, fleshy cotyledons, and a minute superior 

 radicle. 



1. Fagus. Linn. Beech. 



Barren fl. in a globose catkin. Perianth single, of one leaf, 

 campanulate, 6-cleft. Stamens 5 — 12. Fertile fl. two, within 



