THE ASPEN - 127 
(Smer'inthus po'puli) and the Continental Poplar 
Butterfly (Limenv‘tis po’pult), resembling our own 
White Admiral. 
From its more spreading habit of growth the 
Aspen has none of the formality in landscape effect 
of the Lombardy Poplar, and, though useful, along 
with its congener the Abele (Po'pulus al'ba L.), in 
the marshy wood, it deserves a place in the fore- 
ground of the copse bordering a lake or stream. A 
row of Aspens in such a situation would prove very 
effective, reflecting, as it were, in their quivering 
leaves the ripple of the water at their feet. 
In open heathy glades in Epping Forest, where 
careless or incendiary fires have laid bare the surface, 
and where formerly the Birch only was wont to sow 
itself, this species now springs freely. Its readily 
dispersed plumed seeds may be derived originally 
from cultivated specimens of the tree somewhere on 
the borders of the woodland ; but, once sown, they are 
certainly showing themselves capable of holding their 
own. Similarly it is recorded that in 1813, after the 
burning of Moscow, seedling Aspens sprang up over 
the ruins of the whole city. 
The roots of the Aspen spread mostly at a small 
distance below the surface of the moist ground in 
which it delights, and it has thus but a slight power 
of resisting wind. 
It has been suggested that the Grey Poplar (P. 
canescens Sm.) may be a hybrid between the 
Abele and the Aspen. It grows to the same size as 
they do, but is of slower growth, and accordingly 
Mr. James Crowe, of Lakenham, Norfolk, who, about 
