SALICACE^E. 



serrated ; the base more entire, the under side palest. Catkins 

 all long, loose and pendulous, measuring 3 or 4 inches. Bracts of 

 both kinds palmate, hairy, occasionally smooth. Stamens 8, scarcely 

 more with us, though Linnaeus and Leers describe 16. Ovary 

 ovate, but slender, closely sheathed at the base only with the regular 

 cup-like calyx. Stigmas 4, awl-shaped, simple, moderately spreading, 

 reddish. Smith. The young leafbuds have a strong aromatic bitter 

 taste, and when fresh crushed are occasionally used in the preparation 

 of an ointment (Unguentum populeum) for tumours, wounds, and 

 burns. They are also employed as the basis of a Balsam and tincture 

 used for colic, headach, &c. 



655. P. dilatata Hort. Kew. iii. 406 (the Lombardy poplar) 

 is employed like the last. 



656. P. balsamifera Linn. sp. pi. 1464. Willd. iv. 805. 

 P. Tacamahaca 'Mill. diet. No. 6. North America, and Siberia. 

 (The Tacamahac Poplar.) 



A large tree. Branches smooth, round, deep brown ; buds acuminate, 

 smooth, covered in the spring with an abundance of fragrant viscid bal- 

 samic juice. Leaves ovate-oblong, quite smooth, with fine glandular 

 serratures, deep green above, almost white, but smooth underneath. 

 Sometimes 2 glands at the apex of the petiole. The buds are ga- 

 thered for medicinal purposes; their resinous secretion, collected in 

 shells, is brought to Europe from Canada, and is said to be diuretic 

 and antiscorbutic. 



657. P. candicans Hort. Kew. iii. 406. ~] , nroDert i e s 



658. P. laurifolia Ledeb.fi. alt. Pall.fi. I* ^ fast 

 ross. i. t. 41. J 



659. P. tremuloides Mich. fi. am. sept. ii. 243. arb. t. 8. f. 1 . 

 P. trepida Willd. iv. 803. Swamps of the United States. 

 (American Aspen.) 



A tree from 20 to 30 feet high. Leaves roundish ovate, very acute, 

 very slightly tapering into the petiole, without any glands at the base, 

 finely serrated, 3-nerved, distinctly ciliated ; petioles compressed, 

 smooth, almost as long as the leaf. Bark esteemed as a febrifuge 

 in the United States. 



320 



