“Remember the Alamo!”
No, not the Texian war cry of the ‘Battle of San Jacinto’ avenging the fall of ‘The Alamo Mission’ to Mexican forces. But my cry to remember one of the most beautiful trees, Populus Alba, or, White Poplar (Alamo in Castillian). Native to Spain and Morrocco it’s silver and green summer leaves have turned to amber. And like amber, when the sun casts it’s light through it’s transparent body, it illuminates into gold.
Ancient mythology tells us that the White Poplar was consecrated by Hercules after his slaying of Cacus in the Aventine Hills which was covered in these ancient trees. Hercules reached up and took a branch to fashion into a wreath for his brow in celebration of his victory. Since this occasion all devotees of Hercules fashioned a poplar garland in celebration of vanquishing their enemies in battle.
I wonder if those wild frontiersmen in ‘hollerin’ “Remember the Alamo!” realised they were also evoking the power and authority of the son of Zeus?
Paul Beckmann said,
November 17, 2008 @ 10:53 am
Populus alba is native to a wide area, it is one of the few trees capable of growing in the Gobi desert (by oases - it does need some water!) it also grows well in Greece on the sea shore and must be incredibly salt tolerant. In the UK it suckers like mad and can be a terrible nuisance, blocking drains and seeking out water wherever possible, including under foundations. Interesting that your specimen is growing by the balsa I wonder if the roots damaged it?