IIandkook of Tkees ok the Xoktiikkx States and Canada. 11 



The W'liito Poplar is a nativo of central and 

 southern Kurope, the eorre^pondinii latitudes 

 of Asia, as far east as the lliniahiya Moun- 

 tains, and of northern Africa. 11 was ( arly 

 introduced into this counlry fur oi n unental 

 l)urposes and has heeonie nalurali/eil in many 

 Idealities throuj^hout northeastern L'niteil 

 Slates and Canada. It is a larye tree some- 

 times attaining the height of 100 ft. with 

 trunk .'i (u- 4 ft. or more in diameter, vested 

 ill a eharaeteristie gn'enish gray and wliitisli 

 hark of liraneiies and upper trunk, wliih- tliit 

 at the hase of old trunks becomes deeply ehft 

 into tirm dark ridges. It commonly (le\ehi[)s 

 a large irregular open broad or rounded t(jp. 

 The contrast between the dark green ujiper 

 surfaces of its leaves and the velvety wliite 

 miller >urfaces causes a i)leasing scintillating 

 eliVct a> tiiey are agitated by the wind, and 

 this gives to the White Poplar a peculiar 

 ornamental value. The abundance of the trees 

 about the >.itcs of old country Iinmes attests 

 its long po[)ularity as an ornamental tree and 

 its hardiness, but the rapidity and persistence 

 with which it spreads, by means of its long 

 >toloniferous roots, makes it in some places a 

 nuisance. 



Its wood is light, soft, tough and of a red- 

 dish yellow color with nearly white sap-wood.' 



Leaves f|iiito varial)lo l)nt commonly suborbicii 

 lar or broad ovate. 2-4 in. Ions, obtuse or nciiti' 

 at apex, tnincnte or cordate at l)ase, irregiilaih 

 dentate, sinuate-dentate or lespeciall.v on y\->>\- 

 ous shoots) palmately ."'.-.")- lobed and with pciidl.s 

 and branehlets white velvety toiueiitos(> at first. 

 but many of the leaves heciiiiiini; ylabriite late iu 

 the .season dark fjreen above or bv Inie suiiinur 

 often scurfy or nearly slabrmis beneath, wliib 

 those on viRoroiis shoots retain their white to- 

 mentum beneath: petioles shorter than the blade; 

 branehlets and bud in winter white scurfy to- 

 mentose. Floircrs staniinate aments lV>-2 in. 

 long (becoming :i-4 in. long) stout: pi'stillate 

 aments more slender: stigmas digitately lobed. 

 Fruit: capsules ovoid-oblong, about .{-IG in. long, 

 2-valved. 



Popiiliix alba var. IMUann (Rolle's Poplar) 

 was found in Turkestan in 1S7.">. They are tre<-s 

 with narrow pyramidal tops of fastigiate branches 

 and are now extensively planted for ornanienta! 

 purposes in the Atlantic states. They are con- 

 sidered as of greater (unamental value than is 

 tlie typical form. 



1. A. \V., IV, 96. 



