OCTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Populus, 
487 
(E. Bot. 1619. E.)—Lob. Ic. ii. 193. 2—Ger. Em. 1487. 5—Park. 1410. 2— 
J. B. lb. 160. 2. 
(Grey Poplar. P. canescens. Sm. Not uncommon in moist situations. 
E.)* 
P. trem'ula. Leaves nearly circular, toothed, smooth on both sides : 
(leaf-stalks compressed, young branches hairy. E.) 
(E. Bot. 1909. E.)— Kniph. 6— Blackw. 248. 2— Matth. 139— Cam. Epit. 
67—J. B. lb. 163— Ger. 1302. 3 —Bod. 836. 2—Lob. Obs. 610. 1. and Ic. 
ii. 194. 2— Ger. Em. 1487. 3— Park. 1411. 4— Trag. 1083— Lonic. i. 
26. 2. 
(A rather large tree, though sometimes dwarfish, the bark smooth and 
greyish. Roots running horizontally, and throwing up numerous young 
plants. Leaves on long petioles, trembling with the slightest wind. Fer¬ 
tile catkins near two inches long. Germen roundish. Grev. E.) Leaf¬ 
stalks flatted towards the end, whence the trembling of its leaves. 
Gouan. As also in some few other instances. The plane of the leaf¬ 
stalks is at the right angle to that of the leaves, which allows the leaves 
a much freer motion than could have taken place had their planes been 
parallel. St. Leaves more circular than in the preceding. 
Asp. (From the German, Espe, a Poplar of any kind. E.) Aspen Tree. 
Trembling Poplar. (Welsh: Aethnen; Cryddethnen. Gaelic: An 
Criothann. E.) Moist woods, and in boggy ground. T. March—April.f 
* (Of slower growth than the Abele-tree ; wood much firmer, making good floors, and 
not readily taking fire. Sm. E.) 
t The Asp will grow in all situations and in all soils, but worst in clay. It impoverishes the 
land ; its leaves destroy the grass, and the numerous shoots of the roots, (only to be reme¬ 
died by stocking up and trenching with the spade, E.) spread so near the surface of the 
earth, that they will not permit any thing else to flourish. It bears transplanting well. The 
wood is extremely light, white, smooth, woolly, soft; durable in the air. The bark of 
the young trees is made into torches. The leaves and leaf-stalks are sometimes set with, 
red globular substances, about as large as a pea, which are the nests of Tipula Juniperina y 
a long-legged fly. (Balaninus tremulce also frequents this tree. E.) Sheep and goats 
browse upon it; horses and swine refuse ic. (Linnaeus informs us that the bark is a 
favourite food of beavers. Upon a mechanical principle above explained, 
-■** rustling turn the many-twinkling leaves 
Of Aspen tall.” 
And hence to tremble as an Aspen-leaf; 
--“ His hand did quake 
And tremble like a leaf of Aspen green.” Spencer. 
And again, 
t( Why tremble so broad Aspen tree ? 
At rest thou never seemst to be, 
For when the air is still and clear, 
Or when the nipping gale increasing, 
Shakes from thy boughs soft twilight’s tear, 
Thou tremblest still, broad Aspen tree. 
And never tranquil seemst to be.” 
Though this peculiarity is obviously occasioned by the natural conformation of the plant, 
superstitious ignorance has attributed the incessant agitation to a far different cause, no less 
than the consciousness of its species having supplied the identical cross on which the 
Saviour suffered. Nor ought we to omit, that, with almost as little probability, it has been 
most calumniously insinuated that of the leaves of the Asp were made women's tongues , 
“ which,” according to unquestionable authority, (and, may we be permitted to add, most 
happily for the edification of the ruder sex,), <( do seldom cease wagging.” E.) 
