Beside these four poplars, the swamp cottonwood (Populus heterophylla) is found growing wild at one place in Connecticut, and the Lombardy and white poplars are both planted commonly from Europe.
The erect, rigid branches of the Lombardy poplar and its general narrow, spire-like growth make the outline of this tree so distinctive that it is easily recognized, even in winter, at a great distance. The buds are gummy, and the bark of the trunk is deeply fissured. It is a tall tree, often reaching one hundred and twenty feet high.
The white poplar may be distinguished by its buds, which are not covered with sticky coating like those of the other members of this genus, and by the recent shoots, which are downy. It is remarkable in summer for the thick, white down on the under sides of the dark green leaves, producing a most pleasing contrast in the foliage when the wind blows.
Chapter XV
THE LARCH
AMERICAN LARCH
Larix americana
Page [187]
Chapter XV
THE LARCH
Family Pinaceæ
The larch is the only native Northern genus of the pine family which loses its leaves in winter; all the other native genera are evergreens. There is one indigenous species, and one from Europe which is cultivated even more commonly than the American tree.