INDIGENOUS TREES AND SHRUBS. 23 



large aspen, P. grandidentatci. 



Less common than the preceding, but a larger tree. Has a straight 

 trunk, smooth greenish bark, rarely cracked; branches scattered and few, 

 foliaged at their extremities. Leaves nearly round, smooth on both sides 

 and bordered with large teeth. Catkins about six inches long, appearing 

 in the infancy of the leaves, then thickly coated with down. 



The two aspens here mentioned, vast in quantity in the northern wood- 

 lands are not utilized with the spruces for wood pulp for paper-making, 

 etc., and with the other poplars are manufactured into boxes. 



balsamic poplar, tacamahac, P. balsamifera. 



Common in the northern woods. A middle sized tree; "has round or 

 scarcely angled branchlets, very glutinous and pleasantly balsamic strong 

 scented bud-scales, and ovate, or lanceolate gradually tapering leaves." 

 Gray. 



The hardiest of the poplars; not so pretty as the other species. It 

 extends far into the north. The greater part of the drift-wood is this poplar 

 found on the shores of the Arctic ocean. "Pallas states," says the trans- 

 lator of Michaux, "that the grouse and other birds of that family that 

 feed on the buds of this Poplar during winter, have their flesh imbued 

 with a grateful balsamic flavor." 



balm op gilead, P. balsamifera, var. candicans. 



Frequent northward, sometimes scattered but oftener in groups. Among 

 the environs of the upper Mississippi, it becomes a magnificent tree. One 

 such was found on the St. Louis waters, so stated to the writer by a reliable 

 explorer, growing six feet in diameter and not less than a hundred feet 

 high. It is very hardy, adapting itself to any soil. 



Trunk smooth-rifted, greenish bark, dark green foliage, tufted; branches 

 irregular. Leaves three times larger than the preceding, and heart-shaped. 

 The tree is literally saturated with water; wood requires a long time to 

 season. Roots spread inveterately. Agreeable when budding, but when 

 the sticky buds fall off, the tree is a nuisance in a lawn. The balsamic 

 property is healthy. 



LOMBARDY POPLAR, P. dilatClta. 



"Stiff wiry tree, with closely oppressed branches, and small broadly 

 triangular pointed leaves formerly much planted from the Old World." 

 Not reliable. 



WHITE OR SILVER LEAP POPLAR, P. alba. 



European originally, now growing spontaneous. Is a fast grower and 

 massive. "Spreading branches, roundish, slightly heart-shaped, wavy- 

 toothed or lobed leaves, soon green above, very cottony beneath." Gray. 

 One of our best is the Norway Poplar. Laurel-Leaved and other European 

 species, are valuable. 



