880 THE POPLAR FAMILY. 



2. A large and lofty tree, of very rapid growth, much branched at the upper 



part, but not picturesquely, and perfectly glabrous in every part. Leaves 

 broadly triangular, acutely pointed, serrate, glabrous on both surfaces, 

 and twice as long as their slender and flattened petioles. Catkins lax 

 and pendulous, the male ones of a fine reddish brown, almost crimson 

 while young, and appearing before the leaves are out ; the scales, which 

 have each about sixteen stamens underneath them, hairy only at the 

 tips. Buds very glutinous. No suckers from the base of the trunk ; 

 foliage usually fluttering Black Poplae. 



3. A smaller tree than either of the preceding, of slower growth, and with 



slenderer branches. Leaves nearly circular, thin, often not more than 

 an inch across, toothed, scolloped, and angular, though variably, glabrous 

 on both sides, and supported on particularly slender stalks, which are 

 flattened laterally towards the end, as in the other native species, but 

 even more decidedly, so that the blade trembles with the slightest 

 movement of the air. Catkins rather small; the scales deeply divided; 

 stamens six to eight Aspen. 



HABITATS AND LOCALITIES. 



1. "White Poplar — [Popiilus alba.) 



Hedgerows and plantations, common, though in most cases intro- 

 duced. Many fine specimens occur by the side of the Cheadle road. 



Fl. April. 



E. B. xxiii. 1018. 



A variety of this tree, with smaller leaves, which are seldom lobed, and not so 

 white underneath, is by many botanists distinguished as the gray poplar, or 

 Populus canescens. (E. B. xxiii. 1019.) It occurs, not unfrequently, in most 

 directions out of Manchester. The white poplar is sometimes called the Abele. 



2. Black Poplar — (Pupulus nigra.) 



In hedgerows and damp woods, common, but generally, perhaps 

 always, from the hand of the planter. Very abundant about Chorlton, 

 Cheadle, and at Gatley Carrs. Fl. April. 



E. B. xxvii. 1910 ; Baxter, vi. HOG. 



The fine red catkins give this tree a glowing beauty in early spring which is 

 unequalled by any other of tlio Amentacea;. They strew the ground in abun- 

 dance after flowering, and at the same season there may be picked up thousands 

 of delicate skeletons of the preceding year's leaves, deprived of their soft and 

 cellular part by the action of the elements during winter. 



3. Aspen— {Pupulus trcmula.) 

 In hedgerows, moist woods, and plantations, especially where the 



