108 THE POPLAE AND THE WILLOW. 



The clusters of poplar seed-capsules are exactly of 

 the figure and general appearance of bunches of 

 currants, though usually much longer, attaining 

 ordinarily four or five inches. While green, every 

 capsule is perfectly spherical, bursting in due time, 

 by a vertical crack, into two little halves. The 

 capsules of the willow, on the other hand, are 

 densely packed ; individually they are conical, and, 

 when they burst, the two canoe-shaped and sharply- 

 pointed halves are gracefully recurved. There is a 

 further distinction found in the clusters of stamen- 

 flowers. The little scales by which the stamens are 

 shielded are in the willows smooth-edged, but in 

 the poplars torn and ragged ; and while in willows 

 the stamens seldom exceed two in number, in pop- 

 lars they are at least eight, and sometimes many 

 more. 



These delicate distinctions are rendered necessary 

 in botany by the frequently strong resemblances 

 which subsist in the architecture and in the profile 

 of plants, judging by which alone, we are liable 

 to be led into error. Moreover, by carefully 

 observing them, many things which apparently 

 have little connection, prove in the end to be most 

 intimately related, and a capital hint is offered as to 

 precipitancy in decision with regard to matters far 

 more noble and vital than trees. How common, for 

 instance, the belief that the name of "poplar" 

 applies legitimately only to that tall and spire-like 



