LOMBARD! POPLAR 



I'opiilus nigra italica l>u Roi 



The Willow la in il y 

 - u.h iCEAl 



Habit and Habitat: A large tl '-100 feet tall, with a short. 



ridged, ribbed and buttressed trunk. et in diameter, and a narrow, 



compact, spire-like or narrowly conical crown <>f myriads of ex 

 branches and twigs. Prefers rich, moist Boils, as most of the poplars, 

 but like them it is also grown under a great variety of conditions. The 



poplars are readily adapted to different environmental conditions. 



Leaves and Buds: Leaves alternate, simple ' ^ inches long, 



often somewhat broader than long, broadly deltoid, abruptly pointed at 

 the tip. straight across the base, finely and bluntly toothed or serrate, 

 thick and firm, more or less leathery, (lark green and shiny above, paler 

 beneath, turning rich, golden yellow in autumn; petioles Blender, 1-2 



inches long, flattened. Terminal bud conical, angular, pointed, more or 

 less sticky. j 4 - :l s inch long:; lateral buds smaller, closely pressed against 

 the twigs. 



Flowers and Fruits: Flowers produced in April or May, before the 

 haves, both kinds in catkins; the staminate in stalkless, cylindrical. 

 dark red catkins. ."» inches long;; pistillate catkins not produced in the 

 United States; calyx and corolla 0; stamens 7-10. purplish. Fruit 



a capsule or pod more or less like that of the other poplars, but not 

 produced in the United State because of the fact that the female or 

 pistillate flowers are not produced here. 



Bark, Twigs and Wood: The bark on old trees is thick, grayish 

 brown or almost black, on the main trunk, deeply and irregularly fur- 

 rowed, the twigs are smooth, shiny, at first yellow, becoming; gray or 

 brownish. The wood is light brown, with thick nearly white Bapwood, 

 light, soft, toughish, weak, not durable; used somewhat for the manu- 

 facture of cheap boxes and wooden ware. 



Distribution in the State: Planted occasionally as an ornamental 

 along fence rows and in parks and gardens. In early times this tree 

 was cultivated in western Asia from which it was introduced into Europe. 

 It is thought to be a native of Afghanistan where it is said to grow wild 

 at an altitude of 7500 feet. It has been said that the Lombardy poplar 

 was the first ornamental tree to be introduced into the United States 



Remarks: The Lombardy poplar is a rapidly growing tree and can 

 be used to produce a narrow, leafy wall sooner and more satisfactorily 

 than any other tree. When planted by the roadside it does not shade 

 the street because of the narrow, spire-like crown. The tree is rather 

 short-lived and because of the crowded nature of the limbs and twigs 

 many of these die and remain upon the tree to produce a rather un- 

 sightly, bushy appearance. The tree when used In abundance In a 

 landscape- plan produces a particularly striking and pleasing effect as 

 m. for instance, in Salt Lake City and generally in Salt Lake vall< 



A tall. Stately row of such trees on each side of a broad street produces 



a very Impressive effect The tall conical mass of foliage <»f the Lom- 

 bardy becon lally striking and pleasing when contrasted with 



round-headed trees, or when used to break up any extensive horizontal 

 lines in a plan of landscaping. 



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