630 BLACK POPLAR. 



There is great variety in the details of form amongst the 

 different species and their variants, as well as between individual 

 trees, and some notes may be helpful in identifying them. 



THE TRUNK. 



The Black and the Black Italian Poplars, and the Aspen, have 

 the trunk clearly marked throughout the height of the tree. In the 

 Lombardy Poplar it forms a single vertical column, and is fluted in 

 a distinctive manner: the Grey, White, and Balsam Poplars usually 

 have their trunks less clearly distinguishable from the upper branches. 



THE BARK . 



Bark of the roughest texture and the darkest colour is found on 

 the Black Poplar. The Aspen and the White and Grey Poplars 

 have pale - coloured bark, which is smooth except at the extreme 

 base of the trunk, or only slightly cut. 



BUDS. 



The buds of the Black, the Balsam, and the Italian Poplars are 

 large, shiny, and sticky with gum. The buds of the Lombardy 

 Poplar only differ in being smaller ; those of the Grey and White 

 Poplars are neither sticky nor shining, but coated with white down : 

 those of the Aspen again differ completely in being very small and smooth. 



NEW SHOOTS AND YOUNG LEAVES . 



The young leaves of the Black Poplar and its varieties are 

 smooth and shining, with a somewhat silky under-side, usually sticky, 

 and, especially in the case of the Balsam Poplar, sweet-scented. The 

 young leaves of the Aspen are downy, and the young shoot is some- 

 times hairy, sometimes smooth. 



On the Grey and White Poplars both the young leaves and the 

 new shoots are thickly coated with white down, which on the upper 

 surface gradually disappear as the leaf grows older. 



