APETALiE 261 



Poplar {Populus monilifera). 



This is the tree, which is very commonly planted 

 in this country, that has been until quite recently 

 confused with the Black Poplar (P. nigra). The 

 latter, however, has leaves with a long, narrow point. 

 The branches are horizontal and so are the catkins. 

 The bole is often covered with knots and is blackish 

 and rough. The Lombardy Poplar is a variety of 

 the true Black Poplar (see Fig. 73). 



Though an introduced plant and not indigenous 

 this species is found in all parts of the British Isles. 



It is found in moist places, by the sides of rivers 

 and streams, and both on high ground or at lower 

 levels. It is frequent in plantations and often in 

 woods. 



One may recognise the tree by its peculiar list. In 

 a number of examples noted the list is towards the 

 east. The trunk is bare for some distance, then the 

 boughs spread out in a pyramidal manner and curve 

 upwards in the direction of the list. The tree is tall, 

 erect, and of rapid growth and short-lived. It has 

 grey bark. The wood is soft and light. The plant 

 is hairless, with glutinous buds. The leaves are 

 rhombic, triangular, or nearly rounded, the lower 

 angles rounded, scalloped, coarsely toothed, tapered 

 at the end, the young leaves silky below and fringed 

 with hairs, the older leaves smooth both sides. The 

 leafstalks are flattened from side to side, slender. 



The plant is dioecious. The male catkins are 



