THE BIRCH FAMILY. 



213 



weeping willow growing over Napoleon's grave at St. Helena, 

 and a twig from it having been received at Kew in 1825, it 

 was thus brought into special notice, crowds of people coming 

 to Kew to see it, French visitors even paying reverence to it. 

 This twig, in 1867 had attained the height of 40 feet, when 

 it was cut down. 



Willows are frequently mentioned in the Bible. They 

 were in especial request at the Feast of Tabernacles. 



S. caprea is well known as the goat willow, growing in 

 hedges and road sides. It has large yellow catkins, and as it 

 is generally in flower about Palm Sunday, it is by many 

 people gathered and worn as an emblem of that day, and is 

 known by the name of " Palm." 



The species of willows are very variable, but their distinc- 

 tions are not well determined; about 38 are described by some 

 botanists as natives of Britain. 



White Poplar (Populus alba), Grey Poplar (P. canes- 

 cens), natives of Europe, P. monolifera and allied species 

 of North America, are large and fast growing trees. Poplar 

 timber being light and white is more or less used for many 

 purposes ; that of the grey poplar is used by millwrights, also 

 for the handles of brooms and mops, and for making cricket 

 bats. 



Lombardy Poplar {Populus fastigiatd). This erect pyra- 

 midal tree is well known in the neighbourhood of London: It 

 abounds in Italy, but is believed to be a native of the moun- 

 tains of Western and Northern Asia. 



Aspen {Populus tremula). The trembling poplar is a na- 

 tive of Britain, and is a fast growing tree, the character of 

 the family being remarkably shown by the continual twirling 

 and rustling of the leaves in this species. 



The Birch Family. 



(Betulace^). 



Trees or shrubs, with entire or lobed leaves having stipules. 

 Flowers in catkins, monoecious, the females combined forming 



