EXISTING TREES AND SHRUBS OF EPPING FOREST. 383
It might be worth while to search the hawthorns. Mistletoe
almost always grows from the underside of a branch. Perhaps
the seeds are deposited by birds on the top or side of the branch
and washed round by the rain. As I have never seen any large
bunches in the forest I fear somebody cuts it, mistletoe being
a marketable commodity.
Ulmus montana, Sm. Wych Elm.
There are fairly large trees on Warren Hill, Loughton, and
young trees on the banks of the Ching below Whitehall Road.
Probably they have all been planted.
Ulmus campestris, Sm. Common Elm.
In the same localities; as well as by the pond on Fairmead
and where an old hedge used to run between Fairmead Lodge
and the road. There are also some trees near Queen Elizabeth
Lodge, and of course plenty in the boundary hedges skirting the
forest and in such roadside wastes as Gilwell Lane.
Populus alba, L. White and Grey Poplars.
There, are some fine trees on Warren Hill and at Leyton-
stone and nearly opposite " The Warren Wood " public house,
Buckhurst Hill, but having not yet met with any female flowers,
I cannot be sure of the sub-species. Judging by the leaves alone
most of them appear to be canescens.
They have no doubt been planted.
Populus tremula, L. Aspen.
Probably the only wild poplar we have in the forest. It is
increasing fast in the higher parts and in Lord's Bushes. The
older specimens seem to acquire some of the characters of
P. canescens, particularly with regard to the bark and the shape
of the leaves.
Populus nigra (Black Poplar), P. fastigiata (Lombardy P.),
and P. balsamifera (Balsam P.). These three trees and, I believe,
also P. deltoides are met with in many places where they have
evidently been planted. With the exception of the Lombardy
Poplar, they are extremely unpicturesque. Perhaps P. balsamifera
takes the palm for ugliness; yet, on account of its rapid growth,
it is very commonly grown in the gardens of this neighbourhood.
It is a great pity that the Conservators should have chosen poplars
for some of the avenues they have seen fit to plant on the open
greens. Surely, if avenues are necessary at all, any of our native
forest trees would be more beautiful than these.