768 



Fig. 924. 



THE CATKIN FAMILY. 



leafless peduncles, or almost sessile, op- 

 posite the last leaf of the young shoots. 

 In fruit they sometimes attain half an 

 inch. Capsules nearly glabrous, full 2 

 lines long. 



In alpine pastures, in northern and 

 Arctic Europe and Asia, and in the Alps 

 and Pyrenees. Common at high ele- 

 vations in the mountains of Scotland, 

 extending into northern England, North 

 Wales, and northern Ireland, and Glen- 

 gariff in the south. Fl. summer. 



IX. POPLAR. POPULUS. 



Leaves usually broadly triangular or nearly orbicular, on slender 

 stalks ; the scales of the leaf-buds often covered with a resinous var- 

 nish. Catkins cylindrical, usually silky-hairy, the scales irregularly 

 toothed or lobed at the top. Perianth (or inner united scales) a small, flat, 

 oblique cup. Stamens in the males from about 8 to near 30, with slender 

 filaments and small anthers. Ovary in the females 1-celled, with 

 several ovules inserted on short, parietal placentas. Styles 2, with 

 deeply forked stigmas. Emit a capsule, opening in 2 valves. Seeds 

 several, minute, with a tuft of long, silky hairs. 



A small genus, confined to the temperate regions of the northern 

 hemisphere, very near the Willows in flowers and fruit, but distinct in 

 habit and foliage, and in the presence of an apparent perianth. 



Under side of the leaves and young shoots very white and 



cottony 1. White P. 



Under side of the leaves green and glabrous. 



Leaves ovate-triangular, tapering at the top, with small, re- 

 gular teeth 3. Black P. 



Leaves small, orbicular or rhomboidal, irregularly and rather 



coarsely toothed 2. Aspen P. 



The TacamahacOY balsam P. (P. balsamifera), the Carolina P. (P. 

 angulata), and some other North American species, are to be met with 

 in our plantations. 



1. White Poplar. Populus alba, Linn. (Fig. 925.) 

 (Eng..Bot. t. 1618. Abele.) 

 A tall and handsome tree, with a light-grey or ash-coloured bark, 



