ASPEN. 



POPULUS TREMULA. 



AMENTACE/E. DICECIA OCTANDRIA. 



This tree, called the Trembling Poplar, from the continual qui- 

 vering of the leaves, is more commonly known by the name of Asp, 

 or Aspen ; derived from the German, Espe ; which, in its original, 

 signifies a Poplar of any kind. — French, la Tremble. — Italian, la 

 Tremola, Alberella, Alberetto. 



The Aspen is a native of many parts of Europe, in 

 moist woods and marshes : in the little islands of the 

 Lake of Cachemire, too, it is said to grow abundantly. 

 It has a smooth green bark ; the leaves are nearly heart- 

 shaped, and being very white on the under side, have a 

 good effect when blown about by the wind, and con- 

 trasted with trees of darker fohage. 



The trembling of the Aspen leaf is proverbial: by 

 some, it is supposed to proceed from the leaf-stalks being 

 flattened at the end; but that is common to other poplars, 

 whose leaves are not so restless. Dr. Stokes ascribes it 

 to the plane of the long leaf-stalk being at right angles 

 with that of the leaf ; thus allowing a freer motion than 

 they could have had if the planes had been parallel. 

 Dr. Aikin attributes it to the length and slenderness of 

 the leaf-stalks ; but the Highlanders set the question at 

 rest at once ; they believe that the cross of Christ was 

 made of this tree, and that therefore the tree can never 

 rest. They can scarcely be conscience-stricken, for the 

 cross could not have been made of the leaves; perhaps 



