subsp. betulifolia (Pursh) Dippel var. betulifolia
subsp. betulifolia (Pursh) Dippel var. viridis Lindley
First record: Ray, 1660
Populus nigra The black Poplar. Ray,1670:250;1677,240.
Martyn,1727,115.
Populus nigra Black Poplar. Relhan,1785;1802;1820.
'Perry Nursery is remembered... as having introduced into Suffolk that glorious tree, the black Poplar, or as Woodbridge folk style it, the Nursery 'Poplar'. Thomas Wright, Life of Edward Fitzgerald, p.96.
Populus nigra. It is supposed to have been a native of the Fen country. Large trees of it are now common, but most, if not all, of them have been planted. Appendix VIII. Bab.314.
See GMS Easy, (1982) Black Poplars Populus nigra in Cambridgeshire. Nat. in Cambs 25:45-50; GMS Easy, (1991) Black Poplars Populus nigra in Cambridgeshire. Nat. in Cambs 33:45-49.
There are also 87 records for P. nigra subsp. betulifolia in Recorder, [R].
28
Ramsey Mereside on Cambs-Hunts border, 279.899, GMS Easy, c. 2000.
29
Tall, dense pollarded tree on edge of ditch, Whittlesey Common Wash, R Payne & G Crompton, 5.7.1988, CGE; 255.982, (similar to 'Aspinal Poplar' at Fulbourn-Teversham below), GMS Easy, before 2000.
34
Bassingbourn, 323.449, one tree planted in same field as below, by PD Sell, c. 1980, f. GMS Easy, 1994;2004; Corner of Three cornered Field at west end at side of Fen Road, Bassingbourn, 323.449, PD Sell 82/111, 20.6.1982, (? P.nigra. f. PD Sell 3.12.1990) CGE; Bassingbourn, 324.449-324.451, 7 pollarded
trees, plus a dead stump, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; and a dead stump, GMS Easy, 1988; var. betulifolia, Young shoots from old tree, north side of Fen Road, south end of west side of Three-cornered Field, Bassingbourn, 323.449, PD Sell 90/348, 12.8.1990, CGE; GMS Easy, 2000.Bassingbourn, 330.454, 2
trees, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; var. betulifolia, Along stream bank through fields near Guise Lane, Bassingbourn, 330.453, PD Sell 90/384, one old tree, no crown, 21.8.1990, CGE; North End, 330.454, two pollarded trees blown down in Oct. 1987, Easy, 1991,49; 2 original trees still alive though blown down + 2 sprouting bushes from roots of downed trees further along ditch, GMS Easy, 2000.Bassingbourn Barracks, 34-45-, 33-46-, 8 trees in 1996, one removed in car park expansion, 7 trees remaining, GMS Easy, 2000.
By river at North End, Bassingbourn, 323.454, PD Sell 61/60a & b, 17.3.1961 & 6.9.1961, (? P.nigra. f. PD Sell 3.12.1990) CGE; Bassingbourn, 323.453, 9
pollarded trees or sprouting stumps, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; one tree further destroyed but sprouting, GMS Easy, 2000.Meldreth, 377.466, one mature
tree, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; removed, GMS Easy, c. 1990.This side of Royston, CEM.ann.
Shepreth, Easy, 1982,49; Shepreth, 395.482, one pollarded
tree, now 80ft high, few bosses above but well marked on 16ft girthed trunk, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; in poor shape, GMS Easy, 2000.var. genuina, Old Mill, Shepreth, CE Moss ann. 6" OS map, CUB;
still there but ± fallen, JM Lock, 1987; 398.471, stout branches shooting up from fallen main trunk, CP, G Crompton, 31.1.1988; still in good order, GMS Easy, 2000.35
Lords Bridge, 395.537, 395.538, six trees recently planted (from Fen Ditton and Red Lodge, GMS Easy, 2000.
Orwell, Easy, 1982,49; 364.501, 3 small
trees, one cut c. 1975, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; another taken down, 1996, GMS Easy, 2000.38
Chatteris, AF.ann; Carters Bridge Farm, Chatteris, 381.884, E Milne-Redhead, 1977; 1 small, poor tree, G Crompton & R Payne, 1977; GMS Easy & G Crompton, 1982; farmer has planted a
tree next to old one, GMS Easy, 3.1994; still present,GMS Easy, 2000.var. betulifolia, Near 26 Fairway, Chatteris, 388.852 pollarded and begining to form bosses. Either relict of former meadow or planted on housing estate about 30 years ago, R Payne, 3.9.1981, det. PD Sell 1990, CGE; regularly pollarded, GMS Easy, 2000.
Chatteris, 386.854, 71 trees recently planted, presumably in mistake (instead of Lombardy belt) Not botanically different from P. nigra but some with balsam smell; 1998 (but given a reference to this area in 1980s but overlooked this belt of trees), GMS Easy, 2000.
44
Fowlmere O 18, APD Jones, 1939.
45
Adams Road Bird Sanctuary, 437.588, PH Oswald et al., 14.9.1998, [R]; Adams Road, 438.586, 2 trees planted c. 1982; present, GMS Easy, 2000.
Anstey Hall, 441.548,
planted from Dalham tree, GMS Easy, 2000.Botanic Garden, Cambridge, CE Moss, 17.7.1911, det. PD Sell 1990, CGE.
Botanic Garden, 4 trees listed, but one from Icklingham (Donald 632/78), appears to have gone, GMS Easy, 2000.
Coe Fen, IHB List; Coe Fen, 448.573, recent planting, 1970, cut down, c. 2000, GMS Easy, 2000.
Hobson's Brook near Empty Common, 454.568, GMS Easy, 1981,
blown down Dec. 1984, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; a tall young tree blown down... Easy, 1991,49.Magdalene College, 447.592, c. 100 year old tree has eugenii shape but this may be due to excessive pruning and pollarding since 1985, GMS Easy, 2000.
var. betulifolia, Paradise, 44-57-, C Newell, det. PD Sell, 1993-2000, [R].
var. betulifolia, car park area, Paradise, 44-57-, C Newell, det. PD Sell, 1993-2000, [R]; Paradise, Car Park, 446.573, 3 planted, only one seems to have survived, GMS Easy, 2000.
Hobson's Brook, at end of Porson Road, Cambridge, 454.560, Morley Peniston, n.d; 2 trees, still there, G Crompton & R Payne, 28.11.1975; cuttings taken for CUBG, RW Mellor, 3.12.1975; cut down, GMS Easy Dec. 1983; 2 trees cut down, Dec. 1983, G Crompton, Jan. 1984; 17 foot tree had 120+ ring count, GMS Easy, 1985; 2 trees regenerating, GMS Easy, 1987; poorly bossed, old hollow trees cut down in Dec. 1983, Easy, 1991,49; CPs of many shoots around edges of hollow stumps of trunks, G Crompton, 30.4.1992 and 3.2.1997.
Cherry Hinton cement Works, Out of 35 trees of rather stunted growth (on the chalk), planted 1984, only 2 or so left after recent demolition work, GMS Easy, 2000.
Dernford, EA George, 1940.
Fen Ditton, Park and Ride site, 492.593, two young trees and one 40 years old, cut down when found, GMS Easy, 1988; 493.594, 5 young trees, GMS Easy, 1988; GMS Easy, 2000.
Hauxton, by river, 434.524, up to 20ft girthed pollarded tree, GMS Easy, 1987; 2000.
var. viridis, Stream-side, Madingley, CE Moss, 5.6.1911, det. PD Sell 1990, CGE; Near Madingley, EA George, 1939; var. viridis, By a field opposite the north entrance to Madingley Wood, 403.599, three old trees, one of which was blown over but still living and from which the collection was made. Tree c.50 ft high, main trunk reaching nearly to top and with many spreading lateral branches. Branches numerous and breaking easily. Trunk deeply fissured and with numerous bosses. Bark greyish-brown, anthers red. PD Sell 61/73b & a, 12.9.1961,det. PD Sell 1990, CGE; var. viridis, very large tree on track to farm, 402.599, G Crompton & R Payne, 1975; A large tree beside field-side ditch and track to farm building, 402.599, cuttings collected for CUBG, DR Donald, 29.12.1978; Very old trees, 403.600, c. 200 years old, cut down, GMS Easy, 1984; very old trees, the last cut down in 1984, Easy, 1991,49.
46
Chesterton, Easy, 1982,49; anthrax site, 463.608, 3
trees and 15 saplings, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; a tall young tree cut down in 1989, Easy, 1991,49; one remaining, GMS Easy, 2000.Ditton. Bab.ann.Relhan,409; Fen Ditton. Bab.1860,217 & Bab.MS.Fl.693; var. betulifolia, Fen Ditton, by the river, CE Moss, 10.7.1911, 6.5.1912, det. PD Sell 1990, CGE; Fen Ditton, EA George, 1939; Fen Ditton Stump, 481.604, f. E Milne-Redhead, n.d; 2 large trees in meadow by river, at end of and to right of Church Lane, 483.605, 482.604, CPs, G Crompton & R Payne, 2.6.1976; 2 large trees within 100 paces of river, 481.604, cuttings taken for CUBG, DR Donald, 29.12.1978; still there, 483.605, GMS Easy List, 1982 & List 25.2.1985; 2 trees 105 feet and 116 feet, one c. 180-200 years old, GMS Easy, 1987/8; A cutting (not from trees in situ) planted 1980 remained of several attempts and now well established, GMS Easy, 2000.
About 6 near Girton College, CEM.ann.
Madingley FP from Girton, 416.609, (419.609?) 2 trees, GMS Easy, 15.5.1978; 2 trees directly beside and to W of FP beside stream in planted shelter belt, 419.609, cuttings taken for CUBG, DR Donald, 15.1.1979; Easy, 1982,49; remains of 4 trees (recorded by CE Moss) to SE of those still present plus a possible further remaining stump, GMS Easy, 2000.
Histon. Bab.1860,217 & Bab.MS.Fl.693.
Horningsey. Bab.1860,217 & Bab.MS.Fl.693; HD.ann; Horningsea, copse by road, 498.629, great variety of leaf shapes, GMS Easy, G Crompton & E Milne-Redhead, 3.6.1981; Easy, 1982,49; a mature tree cut down in 1982, Easy, 1991,49; cut down, 1982/3, 125+ years old, GMS Easy, Jan. 1984;
sprouting, GMS Easy, 2.1985 and 1987/8; gone GMS Easy, 1984.King's Hedges. Bab.1860,217 & Bab.MS.Fl.693.
Landbeach, 482.652, a line of 18 trees in garden (planted in error for Lombardy Poplars), GMS Easy, 2000.
Milton Allotments, 472.634, 2 trees still present, GMS Easy, 2000.
Cutting grown in garden, 11 Landbeach Road, Milton, of, a 250 year-old, rugged tree blown down at Fordham, 618.733, in 1986, GMS Easy, 1987; 2000.
Waterbeach gravel pits, (Landbeach) 489.697, 2
trees & 1 cut down, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; 488.694, blown down in March 1986, Easy, 1991,49; still present, 489.697, GMS Easy, 2000.47
Willingham, 401.705, one tree by dyke, GMS Easy, 2000.
48
Coveney, AF.cat; The Springs, AF.ann.
Langwood Pond, AF.Flora.
Manea, 447.886,
GMS Easy, 1982; a female tree blown down in 1987, Easy, 1991,49.Sutton Gault, 436.807, middle of willows, D Partidge, comm. GMS Easy, 3.1996.
49
Upwell Fen, Christchurch, 483.962, 3 trees, GMS Easy, 1982.49; 482.964, blown down in 1987, Easy, 1991,4; 1 down + 3 recently planted trees, 480.967, GMS Easy, 3.1994.
54
Linton, CEM.ann.
55
Fulbourn. Bab.ann.Relhan,409; Fulbourn; SW Wanton. Bab.1860,217 & Bab.MS.Fl.693; Fulbourn, HD.ann.
Fulbourn-Teversham,505.572, 4 trees planted c. 1944, as 'Aspinal Poplars', GMS Easy, 2000.
Great Wilbraham, 545.582, 547.579, 2 trees, GMS Easy, 1981, 2000.
Little Wilbraham, CEM.ann; Scattered trees along Little and Great Wilbraham river, 54-57-, 54-58-, sketch map, GMS Easy, conf. E Milne-Redhead, 8.1981; Easy, 1982,49; remains of 17 trees along river, 540.580 etc., and 17 saplings root origined, a further group of 7 trees along river, 548.583, GMS Easy, 1994, of which 4 remain, GMS Easy, 2000.
56
Ditch bank, Burwell, 58-65-, 3 large trees heavily bossed, JW Clarke, 1977; Field corner copse, Burwell, 581.655, 3 trees, cuttings taken for CUBG, DR Donald, 21.2.1979; var. viridis, Crownall Farm, Burwell, 582.653, from young, very tall tree without bosses, G Crompton & GMS Easy, 31.8.1981, det. PD Sell 1990, CGE; var. viridis, Crownall Farm, Burwell, 582.653, with galls from one of three old heavily bossed trees, G Crompton & GMS Easy, 31.8.1981, det. PD Sell 1990, CGE; 1 tree blown down, G Crompton, 1984; 582.656, an old bossed tree blown down in March 1984, Easy, 1991,49; summary of 3 ancient trees and a recent off-shoot possibly from root origin: one ancient tree and the young tree remain, GMS Easy, 2000.
Scattered trees along canal, Factory Road, Burwell, 58-66-, 58-67-, 58-68-, (with P. serotina), sketch plan, GMS Easy, conf. E Milne Redhead, 8.1981; Easy, 1982,49; South end of North Fen, Burwell, 586.679, no bosses, tree pollarded v.low down, G Crompton & GMS Easy, 31.8.1981, ? var. viridis, det. PD Sell 1990, CGE; 18 of the total of 20 trees present, GMS Easy, 2000.
var. viridis, One old tree, covered with ivy, south of an elecricity sub-station, Burwell, with bosses, only top of petiole hairless, 582.668, G Crompton & GMS Easy, 31.8.1981, det. PD Sell 1990, CGE.
By Bottisham Lode, Lode, 531.628, GMS Easy, 1979;. no bosses, GMS Easy, conf. E Milne-Redhead, 3.6.1981; GMS Easy, 1982,49; one
tree 105' tall, GMS Easy, 1985.Edge of dyke, Lode Fen, 531.633, GMS Easy, 1977, conf. E Milne-Redhead, 3.6.1981; Easy, 1982,49; one
tree GMS Easy, 1985.Beside canal, 103 Commercial End, Swaffham Bulbeck, 556.633, 5 trees, GMS Easy, conf. E Milne-Redhead, 8.1981; c. 3 upright shoots on fallen tree over canal, CPs, G Crompton, 1986 and 4.1991; SW bank of canal, 557.633, taken from c. 20 foot shoots off a fallen trunk lying across the canal, G Crompton, 19.8.1992, CGE; 8 trees, which have probably arisen from a fallen tree, tall, close together and without bosses, G Crompton, 7.1998; bosses are appearing on largest tree, G Crompton, 24.1.2000.
1 tree from CUBG from Icklingham Triangle stock, planted by G Crompton in garden of 103 Commercial End, V Morgan, 14.4.1986.
1
tree from CUBG from Blaxhall (E Suffolk) stock, planted by G Crompton near bonfire site in garden of 103 Commercial End, V Morgan, 14.4.1986.1 tree from cutting taken at Tottington (W Norfolk) planted near collection of Corylus species in garden of 103 Commercial End, G Crompton c. 1978.
Shelter belt S of B.1102 on bend between White Drove Way and Gutter Bridge, Swaffham Bulbeck, 552.628, 551.627, 4 trees, GMS Easy, 8.1981; CPs, G Crompton, 12.2.1988; GMS Easy, 2000.
Edge of field ditch, near Red Tile Farm, 5465.6400, a hollow 20ft girthed pollarded tree, GMS Easy,1988; burnt from stubble fire, CP, G Crompton, 12.9.1988; still there, G Crompton, 1991, 2003.
Swaffham Bulbeck Fen, N of Lythells Farm, 530.668-529.667, complex group of c. 10 trees, GMS Easy, 1989; 4 or 5 trees including one up-rooted, CPs G Crompton, 7.11.1989; small trees and group of root offshoots, possibly of 9 trees planted c. 1845 and mostly cut down since, GMS Easy, 2000.
The Denny, Swaffham Bulbeck, 1 tree from CUBG from Icklingham Triangle stock, planted near bank of moat facing the road, (via G Crompton), DR Donald, 10.3.1978.
Waterbeach Fen. Bab.1860,217 & Bab.MS.Fl.693.
Hinge Farm, Waterbeach Fen, 517.670, one tree, GMS Easy, 1997.
Waterbeach Fen, 526.680, one
tree fallen over and shooting up, GMS Easy, 1999; Waterbeach Fen, in view of Upware, 526.681, GMS Easy, 1999.57
Dimmock's Cote, 534.727-535.726, arable, 19 in shelter belt, GMS Easy, 2000.
In the Fens near the river Cam. Bab.1860,217 & Bab.MS.Fl.693.
Upware. Bab.1860,217 & Bab.MS.Fl.693; HD.ann.
var. betulifolia, Near Wicken Fen, H Gilbert-Carter, 4.7.1945, det. PD Sell 1990, CGE; Wicken Sedge Fen Drove, 560.707, and a dead stump nearby, 1997, GMS Easy, 1999.
64
Little Biggin Common, 631.412-633.413, 18 trees, recently planted, tall enough for a rookery, GMS Easy, 2000.
66
Burwell, 602.692, an impressive mature tree, 1982, cut down in May 1988, Easy, 1991,49.
R. Kennett, Chippenham, 2 trees by bridge over A.11, f. E Milne Redhead, conf. G Crompton, 1973; Near Red Lodge and A.11, by road bridge over R. Kennett, Chippenham, on bank of river in scrubby copse, 692.697, cuttings for CUBG, DR Donald, 21.2.1979; Easy, 1982,49; 3 trees, 693.697, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; originally 4 trees (very dead tree 100ft long remains in Suffolk), 2 trees fallen 1991,1992, an upright sprouting tree remains, GMS Easy, 2000.
Chippenham, Easy, 1982,49; Arable, N side of track to Chippenham Fen, c.65-69-, 1 tree very similar to Madingley tree, GMS Easy, in litt. 1984; cut down before 1990, GMS Easy, 2000.
Stannel Wood, Chippenham, 673.690, G Crook, det. GMS Easy, 3.4.1998.
Chippenham, 656.697, a very old tree blown down in Oct. 1987, Easy, 1991,4.
S of Dane Hill, Kennett, 687.675, 685.676, in mixed copse/plantation by stream through large arable field, 7 large trees all over 10m tall, sketch map, DR Donald, 11.12.1980; Easy, 1982,49; Kennett, 687.675 and 684.678: 175 year old trees, one a 110 fot giant and the other a 23 foot girthed specimen, both blown down in March 1986, Easy, 1991,49; 687.676, a 188 foot giant blown down in Oct. 1987, Easy, 1991,49; 2 remain and a fallen one still alive, GMS Easy, 2000.
Snailwell, 641.679, GMS Easy, 1981; bosses restricted to trunk, Easy, 1982,49; still present, GMS Easy, 2000.
67
Badlingham, 2 trees, Easy, 1982,49; 1
tree by river, 674.716, one tree not by river, GMS Easy List, 25.2.1985; a massive hollow 26 feet 9 inches girthed tree blown down in Oct. 1987, Easy, 1991,49.Populus nigra Black Poplar. In the meadows about Fordham and Soham plentifully. Ray,1660,123(97); Ray. Bab.1860,217 & Bab.MS.Fl.693; Soham/Fordham boundary, 618.733, an ancient tree, GMS Easy, 1981; Moor Farm, Fordham, 'must be the lone survivor of the trees noted by John Ray before 1660', Easy, 1982,49; G Crompton & DH Crompton, 21.2.1982; 618.733, tree has been ploughed round and does not look v. happy, GMS Easy, 12.1984; Fordham, 618.733, a 250 year-old, rugged tree blown down 24.3.1986, Easy, 1991,49; cutting grown in garden, 11 Landbeach Road, Milton, GMS Easy, 2000.
Fordham Wood, along river, 634.694, one slender tree and 1 sprouting stump, D Partidge, 1995; some features suggest eugenii, GMS Easy, 3.1996.
76
Along R. Kennett, 705.685, 703.685, 2 pollarded trees, GMS Easy, 1982; GMS Easy, 2000.
31
Kentford Paddocks, 705.677 & 704.676, two large trees, GMS Easy, 1982; 2000.
Gorefield, 384.109, 3 trees, GMS Easy, 1988, now all gone.
40
Waldersea House, 450.034, & Friday Bridge Camp, 455.042, similar looking trees but somewhat damaged in recent years, GMS Easy, 1982; 2000.
Wisbech; Balding. Bab.1860,217 & Bab.MS.Fl.693; Rummer's Farmstead, outer bank of Nene Wash, Wisbech St Mary, 421.057, pollarded at c. 15ft c. 5 years ago, R Payne, 9.1980; Easy, 1982,49; Easy,1991; cut down, 1996, GMS Easy, 2000.
41
Newton, 434.145, 1 tree, no bosses, Easy, 1982,49.
