18. S. myrtilloìdes, L. Leaves elliptic-obovate, about 1´ long, obtuse or somewhat pointed, entire, smooth on both sides, somewhat coriaceous when mature, revolute, reticulated, pale or glaucous beneath, fertile aments oblong, loosely few-flowered, borne on long leafy peduncles; capsules reddish green; pedicels slender, twice the length of the nearly smooth greenish yellow scale.—Var. pedicellàris, Anders.; leaves oblong-linear or oblanceolate, 1–2½' long.—Cold peat-bogs, N. Eng. and N. J. to Iowa, and northward. (Eu.)
[+][+][+] Prostrate or creeping and matted alpine shrubs.
19. S. Uva-úrsi, Pursh. (Bearberry W.) Leaves elliptical and pointed, or obovate and obtuse, less than 1´ long, 3–4´´ wide, tapering at base, slightly toothed, strongly veined, smooth and shining above, pale and rather glaucous beneath; aments borne on slender lateral leafy peduncles, oblong-cylindric, 6–9´´ long, the fertile lengthening to 2´ and narrowly cylindric, densely flowered above, often loose below; scales obovate, rose-red at the tip, covered with long silky hairs; stamens rarely 2; capsule ovate-conical, brownish at maturity; pedicel scarcely exceeding the gland; style distinct. (S. Cutleri, Tuckerm.)—Abundant over all the alpine summits of N. New Eng. and N. Y. Closely prostrate, spreading from a stout central root over an area 1–2° in diameter.
20. S. herbácea, L. Leaves roundish oval, heart-shaped, obtuse or retuse, less than 1´ long, serrate, smooth and shining, reticulately veined; aments terminating 2-leaved branchlets, small, ovoid, 4–10 flowered; scales concave, obovate, obtuse, glabrous or slightly pubescent; capsule subsessile.—Alpine summits of the White Mountains, and far northward. A very small herb-like species, the half-underground stems creeping and rooting to a considerable extent, the branches seldom rising above 1–2´ from the ground. (Eu.)
2. PÓPULUS, Tourn. Poplar. Aspen.
Bracts (scales) of the catkins irregularly cut-lobed at the apex. Flowers from a cup-shaped disk which is obliquely lengthened in front. Stamens 8–30, or more; filaments distinct. Stigmas 2–4, elongated. Capsules 2–4-valved.—Trees, with broad and more or less heart-shaped or ovate toothed leaves, and often angular branches. Buds scaly, covered with resinous varnish. Catkins long and drooping, appearing before the leaves. (The classical Latin name, of uncertain origin.)
§ 1. Styles 2, with 2–3 narrow or filiform lobes; capsules thin, oblong-conical, 2-valved; seeds very small; leaves ovate.
[*] Petioles laterally flattened; bracts silky; stamens 6–20; capsules numerous, small, on very short pedicels.
P. álba, L. (White Poplar. Abele.) The younger branches and the under surface of the rhombic-oval sinuate-toothed acute leaves white-tomentose; scales crenate, fringed.—Frequently cultivated for shade, spreading widely by the root, and occasionally spontaneous. (Adv. from Eu.)
1. P. tremuloìdes, Michx. (American Aspen.) Small tree 20–50° high, with smooth greenish-white bark; leaves roundish-heart-shaped, with a short sharp point, and small somewhat regular teeth, smooth on both sides, with downy margins, on long slender petioles; scales cut into 3–4 deep linear divisions, fringed with long hairs.—Maine to the mountains of Penn., N. Ky., Minn., and far north and westward.