Poplar white-FOR Erasmus + project
Collaborative dictionary of mythological plants
FUNDED BY EUROPEAN UNION
TARGET GROUP NUMBER : 9
names :
Scientific name:
Genus: populus
species: p.alba
vulgar name:
Spanish: Álamo blanco
Basque: zurzuri
Italian: pioppo bianco
Greek: Λεύκη
morphological description
Native to Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula, white poplar grows in moist conditions, often by watersides.It is the whitest tree in the landscape, and from a distance it can appear to be covered in snow.
Leaves: dark green-grey and white-ish on the underside
Flowers: white poplar is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are found on separate trees.
Fruits: once fertilised, female catkins develop into fluffy cotton-like seeds, which fall in late summer.
Uses
The wood is used in imagery, the bark is also used for tanning and dyeing. The homogeneous light wood, porous and easy and quick dry density; is abrasion resistant and elastic: The wood is used in light carpentry, pulp, panels, packaging, plywood, for its slow-burning matches, pavements, etc. To wash.
POPLAR WHITE MYTHOLOGY
The ancient Roman mythology says that the White Poplar was consecrated to Hercules because he destroyed Cacus in a cavern adjoining the Aventine Hill, which was covered with these trees; and in the moment of his triumph he bound his brows with a branch of White Poplar as a token of his victory. Persons offering sacrifices to Hercules were always crowned with branches of this tree; and all who had gloriously conquered their enemies in battle wore garlands of it, in imitation of Hercules. Homer in the Illiad compares the fall of Simoisius when killed by Ajax to that of a poplar.
So falls a poplar that on watery ground
Leuce,the white poplar
Symbolism
leuce
cacus
Cacus lived in a cave in Cacus lived in a cave in Italy, the future site of Rome. To the horror of nearby inhabitants, Cacus lived on human flesh and would nail the heads of victims to the doors of his cave. He was eventually overcome by Hercules.To the horror of nearby inhabitants, Cacus lived on human flesh and would nail the heads of victims to the doors of his cave. He was eventually overcome by Hercules.