POPULUS 215 



but remains longer on the lower surface, especially on the midrib and 

 veins. The leaves hang laxly on their stalks, which are round, felted at 

 first like the shoot, i| to 3^ ins. long. Male catkins 2 to 2| ins. long; 

 female catkins longer. 



Native of the eastern United States ; introduced in 1765. Excepting 

 the new Chinese P. lasiocarpa, this striking poplar has the largest leaves 

 of any in cultivation, but unfortunately it does not thrive well with us. 

 Loudon observes that he had not seen plants more than 5 or 6 ft. high, 

 and to-day I know of no tree any bigger. P. angulata, which has leaves 

 almost as large, is distinguished by its compressed leaf-stalks, leaves green 

 on both sides, and smooth, angular shoots. 



P. LASIOCARPA, Oliver. 

 (Hooker's Icones Plantarum, t. 1943.) 



A tree 40 to 60 ft. high ; young shoots very stout, downy. Leaves on 

 adult trees 6 to 10 ins. long, 4 to 8 ins. wide ; heart-shaped, with a deep 

 notch where the stalk joins the base, pointed, the margin regularly set 

 with shallow, rounded, incurved, gland-tipped teeth ; both surfaces are 

 at first downy, but the upper one soon becomes quite smooth, the midrib 

 and chief veins of a rich red ; the lower surface remains downy until 

 the fall, especially on the veins ; stalk 2 to 4 ins. long', round, red like 

 the midrib. Male catkins about 4 ins. long, f in. thick, with numerous 

 stamens ; female catkins 6 or 8 ins. long when mature. 



Native of Central China ; discovered by Henry in 1888, and introduced 

 for Messrs Veitch by Wilson in 1900. In regard to its foliage this is the 

 most remarkable and striking of all cultivated poplars. I gathered a leaf 

 on a small tree in the Coombe Wood nursery in October 1908, 14 ins. 

 long by 9 ins. wide (without the stalk). The leaves do not decrease much 

 in size as the tree grows older. The beauty of the leaf is also increased 

 by the rich rhubarb-like red of the stalk and midrib. Wilson describes 

 it as a shapely tree inhabiting moist woods. I doubt if the tree will succeed 

 as well grafted as on its own roots ; after a while there ought to be no 

 difficulty in getting cuttings to take root. Mr Wilson told me that on one 

 of his journeys he came to a little Chinese farm where the farmer had made 

 an enclosure for his animals by driving stakes in the ground. These were 

 of Populus lasiocarpa, and they had taken root and grown freely. 



P. LAURIFOLIA, Ledebour. 

 (P. balsamifera var. viminalis, Loudon.') 



A tree 40 to 70 ft. high, of spreading, lax growth, branches ultimately 

 pendulous, with conspicuously angular, grey young shoots, downy chiefly in 

 the grooves ; winter buds covered with balsamic gum. Leaves lanceolate, 

 narrowly oval or obovate, rounded or tapering at the base, taper-pointed, 

 minutely and evenly toothed, the teeth gland-tipped ; I to 5 ins. long, 

 to 2 ins. wide ; dark green and smooth above ; slightly downy and 

 conspicuously net-veined on a greyish ground beneath ; stalk very variable 

 in length even with leaves of the same size on the same shoot, J to i ins. 

 long, downy. Male catkins i| to 2 ins. long, at first erect, then drooping ; 

 stamens very numerous. 



Native of the Altai Mountains ; introduced about 1830. This tree has 

 never become common, and has not much to recommend it for English 

 gardens, although a tree at Kew growing in damp clayey soil is a rather 

 elegant pendulous-branched tree 50 ft. high. It is evidently very hardy. 



