376 pliny's natural history. [Book XVI. 



with the exception of the poplar, the ivy, and the croton, 

 which we have already mentioned as being called the "cicus." 48 

 (23.) There are three kinds of poplar; the white, 49 the 

 black, 50 and the one known as the Libyan 51 poplar, with a very 

 diminutive leaf, and extremely black ; much esteemed also for 

 the fungi which grow from it. The white poplar has a* parti- 

 coloured leaf, white on the upper side and green beneath. 

 This poplar, as also the black variety, and the croton, have a 

 rounded leaf when young, as though it had been described with 

 a pair of compasses, but when it becomes older the leaf throws 

 out angular projections. On the other hand, the leaf of the 

 ivy, 52 which is angular at first, becomes rounder, the older the 

 tree. From the leaves of the poplar there falls a very thick 

 down ; 53 upon the white poplar, which, it is said, has a greater 

 quantity of leaves than the others, this down is quite white, 

 resembling locks of wool. The leaves of the pomegranate and 

 the almond are red. 



CHAP. 36. LEAVES WHICH TURN ROUND EVERY YEAR. 



"We find a most remarkable and, indeed, a marvellous peculi- 

 arity 54 existing in the elm, the lime,' the olive, the white pop- 

 lar, and the willow ; for immediately after the summer solstice 

 the leaves of these trees turn completely round ; indeed, we 

 have no sign which indicates with greater certainty that that 

 period has past. 



(21.) These trees also present in their leaves the same dif- 

 ference that is to be observed in those of all the rest : the 

 underside, which looks towards the ground, is of a green, 



48 See B. xv. c. 7. 49 The Populus alba of Linnaeus. 



50 The Populus nigra of Linnaeus. 



51 The Populus tremula of Linnaeus. This statement as to the leaves of 

 the poplar is verified by modern experience. 



52 This does not appear to be exactly correct as to the ivy. The leaves 

 on the young suckers or the old and sterile branches are divided into three 

 or five regular lobes, while those which grow on the branches destined 

 to bear the blossoms are ovals or lanceolated ovals in shape. 



53 It is not from the leaves, but from the fruit of the tree that this down 

 falls ; the seeds being enveloped with a cottony substance. This passage 

 is hopelessly corrupt. 



54 See B. xviii. c. 68, where he enlarges still further on this asserted 

 peculiarity; he borrows his statement from Theophrastus, Hist. Plant. 

 B. i. c. 16. 



