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A cultural and ecological biography of the black poplar in Britain. Fiona cooper explores the tree's historic place in the landscape, and how it has played a role in folklore and in the work of poets such as William Cowper. She explains how the tree has been used through the centuries as timber and in medicine, and then addresses the question of its conservation. She investigates the reasons for the black poplar's decline, and focuses in particular on the important populations in the Vale of Aylesbury and in Manchester, which is in danger of completely losing trees which for a century have been a distinctive feature of the urban landscape. The key to the species' survival in Britain may in fact lie in our own understanding of its genetic make-up.
The author, a member of the U.S. Forest Service, recalls life in a Northern California town that is undergoing a transformation from lumber town to modern town and describes the dying years of a unique way of life. (Biography)
This book has been produced with the aim of stimulating the general naturalist to take a closer look at the bumps and lumps that make up the fascinating world of plant galls. Induced by a variety of insects and other organisms and ranging from tiny pimples to bizarre and often very attractive and exquisitely sculptured growths, plant galls are mystery to many people, but they offer a fascinating field of study for both botanists and zoologists. Galls can be found on a very wide range of both woody and herbaceous plants, with over 50 different kinds occurring on Britain's oak trees alone, and there is still much to be learned about even the commonest examples. An introduction to the nature of plant galls and their formation Brief descriptions of some of the organisms that cause or induce galls Superb photographs of just over 200 of the commonest or most conspicuous of Britain's 1,000 or so plant galls, arranged according to their host plants to aid field identification Descriptions of these galls and the life histories of the organisms that cause them
The interactions of plants and their herbivores are complex in part because of the specificity of plant defense responses. The specificity of anti-herbivore defense helps plants reduce their physiological and ecological costs while at the same increasing the effectiveness of defenses. This thesis investigated the specificity of phytochemical anti-herbivore defenses in a boreal tree species, the black poplar (Populus nigra L.), using up to five herbivore species belonging to the same feeding guild, but with different levels of specialization. It mainly focused on defense specificity based on herbivore identity, but also investigated induction profiles in response to different herbivore develo...
Poplars and willows form an important component of forestry and agricultural systems, providing a wide range of wood and non-wood products. This book synthesizes research on poplars and willows, providing a practical worldwide overview and guide to their basic characteristics, cultivation and use, issues, problems and trends. Prominence is given to environmental benefits and the importance of poplar and willow cultivation in meeting the needs of people and communities, sustainable livelihoods, land use and development.
Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 5. Ecology and silviculture of poplar plantations -- Introduction -- Propagation and production of planting stock -- Planting stock types -- Stock production systems -- Unrooted dormant cuttings and sets -- Weed control strategies -- Fertilization and irrigation -- Crop health, protection, and hygiene -- Unrooted dormant branch cuttings -- Rooted dormant cuttings -- Container nursery for rooted plants -- Stock harvesting, processing, and quality control -- Harvesting -- Processing -- Quality control -- Stock packaging and storage.