120 THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



POPLARS OR COTTONWOODS.— These are 



generally designated by the latter name in this coun- 

 try, but they are true Poplars. Those of them called 

 Aspens are remarkable for the easy vibration of the 

 leaves when scarcely a breath of air is perceptible. 

 This results from one end of the leaf-stem being 

 flattened contrary to the plane of the leaf. The con- 

 stant motion of the leaves is supposed to have been 

 the reason for giving these trees the name of Popu- 

 lus or Poplar, because they, like the populace^ are 

 never at rest. It is a more malicious spirit of slan- 

 der that has given them the name of Women s 

 Tongues. The wood of all the species is soft and 

 brittle, but some of them are used in various kinds 

 of light wood-work. 



1. Carolina Poplar. (Populus angulata, Ait.) 

 — This does not reach northward farther than south- 

 ern Pennsylvania. It becomes more abundant in 

 the low country of all the Southern States upon the 

 marshy banks of rivers, in company with Cypress., 

 Red Maple, etc. It is rare in the Middle District, 

 but is sometimes cultivated there about houses. It 

 is 60 to 80 feet high, with an expanded summit and 

 pleasing foliage. The leaves are 3 to 5 inches long 

 (on young shoots 6 to 8), thin, always smooth and 

 bright on both sides, and their edges have small 

 scalloped teeth. They are rounded at the base, and 

 are marked with yellowish nerves. The buds are 

 short, deep green, and not covered with gum. The 

 young branches and annual shoots are angular, from 



