262 TREES OF MINNESOTA. 



Populus grandidenta. I/argetooth Aspen. 



Leaves roundish-ovate, with coarse unequal teeth, densely 

 covered with silky wool beneath when young, smooth on both 

 sides when old; petioles flattened, twigs not angled. Flowers in 

 hairy catkins three to four inches long, the staminate catkins 

 longer than the pistillate, stamens about twelve; seeds very 

 small, dark brown. A medium-sized slender tree, with greenish 

 gray bark rarely over seventy-five feet high and two feet in 

 diameter; resembles the Aspen, and is sometimes confounded 

 with it, but unlike the common Aspen 'it rapidly attains consid- 

 erable size under cultivation. 



Distribution. From Nova Scotia west to Northern Minnesota 

 and North Dakota, south to North Carolina, Kentucky and Ten- 

 nessee. In Minnesota throughout most of the state in forests, 

 usually in rich moist sandy soil near swamps and streams. 



Propagation. By seeds and cuttings. 



Properties of Wood. Light, soft, and close grained but not 

 strong; light brow.n with thin, white sapwood. Specific gravity, 

 0.4632; weight of a cubic foot, 28.87 pounds. 



Uses. The Largetooth Aspen can sometimes be planted in 

 timber belts to advantage. It makes good straight poles for 

 various farm purposes and for framing; it is also used for wood 

 pulp, and occasionally in turnery and for woodenware. 



Varieties Populus grandidenta has given rise to several varie- 

 ties with pendulous branches, which when grafted on straight 

 stems of the species are used in ornamental planting and form 

 the best weeping poplars. 



Populus balsamifera. Balm of Gilead. Tacamahac. 



Leaves ovate, lanceolate, acute or taper pointed, smooth on 

 both sides; petioles not prominently flattened; buds in spring 

 are large and abundantly covered and saturated with a fragrant 

 aromatic varnish. Flowers appear in April or May; the stami- 

 nate catkins two to three inches, and the pistillate four to six 

 inches in length; stamens very numerous, purple. Seeds with a 

 large cottony float. A large, upright tree, with narrow straight 

 top, and nearly smooth gray bark, the largest of the sub-arctic 

 trees. 



