396 NEW ENGLAND TREES IN WINTER. 



LOMBARDY POPLAR 



Populus nigra, var. italica Du Roi. 

 P. dilatata Ait. ; P. pyramidalis Rozier ; P. fastigiata Desf. 



HABIT A tall tree reaching over 100 ft. in height with a buttressed 

 taperirtg, continuous trunk, sometimes as much as 6-8 ft. in diameter 

 at base; branches numerous, arising low on the trunk, bending upward 

 at a sharp angle with numerous branchlets also sharply ascending to 

 form a very narrow spire-shaped tree of decidedly characteristic ap- 

 pearance; spreading by means of root suckers. It tends to retain its 

 leaves on the lower part of the tree. (See bark picture.) 



BARK On old trees gray to brown, deeply furrowed. 



TWIGS Resembling those of Carolina Poplar but slender, round and 

 appressed. 



L.EAF-SCARS Resembling those of Carolina Poplar but smaller. 



BUDS Resembling those of Carolina Poplar but for the most part 

 appressed, distinctly smaller, terminal buds seldom over 10 mm. long 

 and lateral buds generally under 8 mm. in length. 



COMPARISONS The Lombardy Poplar is readily distinguished from 

 all our other trees by its striking spire-shaped habit of growth. In 

 twig characters it resembles the Carolina Poplar but the twigs are 

 slender and the buds average smaller and are more characteristically 

 appressed. 



DISTRIBUTION A European tree much planted in this country for 

 ornament, escaping to a certain extent to roadsides and river banks. 



WOOD Light, soft, weak, close-grained, reddish-brown with thick 

 nearly white sapwood, used to a slight extent in the manufacture of 

 boxes and wooden ware 



