*o* APETALOUS EXOQENS 



4. P. GRAECA, Ait. Leaves cordate-ovate, acuminate, uncinately 

 serrate. 



GREEK POPULUS. Athenian Poplar. 



Stem 30 to 50 feet high, with irregular and rather spreading branches. Leaves 

 4 to 6 or 8 inches in length, and about as wide as long; petioles 1% to 3 inches 

 long. Pistillate aments 3 to 6 inches in length. 

 Hob. Streets, and yards. Fl. April. Fr. May. 



Obs. This species was introduced, here, as a shade tree, early in 

 the present century; but it was not generally adopted, and is now 

 nearly superseded by more eligible ones. We have only the pistil- 

 late plant ; and the cottony coma, from the bursting capsules, is so 

 abundant as to render the tree objectionable, in the immediate 

 vicinity of dwellings. It is stated in SELBT'S History of British 

 Forest Trees (1842), that the North American Continent is probably 

 the "real native country" of this Poplar, If so, AITON'S specific 

 name (Graeca,) was an unfortunate misnomer: a mistake, however, 

 not uncommon in vulgar names. 



5. P. DILATXTA, Ait. Leaves much dilated, nearly deltoid, acumi- 

 nate, serrate, smooth on both sides. 



DILATED POPULUS. Lombardy Poplar. Italian Poplar. 



Stem 60 to 80 feet high ; branches numerous, nearly erect, forming a close 

 conical-oblong symmetrical top. Leaves 2 to 3 inches in length, and rather wider 

 than long; petioles about 2 inches in length. Staminate aments 2 to 3 inches long, 

 the bracts finely fringed. 

 Hob. Streets, and avenues, FL April. Fr. 



Obs. This was a favorite ornamental tree, for a number of years ; 

 but is now (1852) nearly obsolete. Mr. WATSON, in his Annals of 

 Philadelphia, says it was introduced from England, in 1784, by 

 WILLIAM HAMILTON, Esqr., of the "Woodlands," near that City. 

 The Botanical Editor of REES'S Cyclopaedia, however, thinks they 

 have only the pistillate plant in England, whereas it was the stam- 

 inate plant that was introduced by Mr. HAMILTON ; and he may 

 have procured it from the Continent. SELBY, in his British Forest 

 Trees, says this Poplar was probably brought into Italy, from Per- 

 sia. It is called P. fastigiata, by DESFONTAINES ; and SELBY uses 

 the term fastigiate in its original sense of taper-pointed, conical or 

 pyramidal, instead of level- or flat-topped, which is the meaning 

 attached to it by most modern Botanists. 



6. P. ALBA, L. Leaves roundish-cordate, or often 3-lobed, coarsely 

 dentate, smooth and green above, mostly white and densely tomen- 

 tose beneath. 



WHITE POPULUS. Silver Poplar. Abele-tree. 



Stem 30 to 60 feet high, with spreading branches and a smooth greyish-white 

 bark. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, -when old, sometimes glabrous on both sides ; 

 petioles 1 to 2 inches in length. Aments 1 to 2 inches long, the bracts finely 

 laciniate and ciliate with white hairs. 

 Bab. Streets, and yards. Nat. of Europe. Fl. April. Fr. 



Obs. This is becoming somewhat frequent, as a cultivated shade 

 tree, though its tendency to send up suckers, all around it, renders 



