Handbook of Trees of ti-ie ISFoethern States and Canada. 107 



The Swamp Poplar where conditions are 

 favorable for best development, in the lo« er 

 Mississippi \'alley, attains a height of 80 or 

 90 ft., with straight colnumar trunk 2-3 ft. in 

 diameter vested in a grayish brown bark with 

 prominent scaly ridges, and develops an open 

 irregular top with few large branches. In the 

 Atlantic states it rarely attains a greater 

 height than 40 or 50 ft. Here it is rare and 

 local and is confined to the borders of ponds 

 and swamps more or less pernninently in- 

 undated. In the JIississi]ipi basin it is more 

 abundant, ami it is found in company with the 

 Honey and \\ater IjOcusts, Mississippi Hack- 

 berry, Swamp White Oak, Eed and Drummond 

 Maples, Sweet Gums, Tupelos, etc. 



The wood of the Swamp Poplar is of a 



grayish brown color with light sap-wood. A 



cubic foot when absolutely dry weighs 2.1.48 



lbs. It is manufactured into lumber, under 



the name of Black Poplar, for interior fniisli- 



ing, etc.i 



Leaver 4-8 in. loni;. tjroad o\'ati' with petioles 

 long and terete, varying fintn rnnnrt to cordate at 

 base, crenate, obtuse or suhaciito at apex, covered 

 witti white woolly tomentum at Hvst lint finally 

 glabrous with brown hnds ncutr or ohtiise. resin- 

 ous. Flowers (April-May) slaliroiis sciirioiis tim- 

 bricated scales, staminate aments stout, denscly- 

 tlowered, tinaily '2-'.\ in. loni; and droo])ing ; 

 stamens 12-20 ;' pistillate aments small, racomi'- 

 like. few-flowered with short style : ovary f)Void. 

 and thick 2 or ."^-lolied sliiimas. Fruit (ripe in 

 May) with ovoid-ohlons pnintod 2-.';-valved cap- 

 sules, shorter than or equalling; the pedicels. 



1. A. W., IV, 97. 



