The Poplar

The Poplar tree is a common deciduous plant of the cottonwood family whose general name is also applied to the common Aspen.

Poplars are often grown as ornamental trees - but they must be planted a long way from foundations, as their roots are powerful, vigorous and invasive.

The wood of the poplar is light, durable, close-grained and highly flexible -, all of these characteristics also being shared by the willow. 

Poplar wood was highly favored for the construction of shields since the wood was very strong and durable, difficult to penetrate, but much lighter than oak.

If you are considering making wooden shields for warfare, consider the poplar as your go-to choice for the wood.

Or, if you are considering entering the viola-making trade, poplar has long been a much prized timber for this craft.

In fact, you could easily surprise your foe, by advancing upon him in the dead of night, screeching away at your beautifully-grained viola, whilst at the same time presenting it forward as a shield, and then bashing him over the head with it when you are close -, the strong flexible and durable poplar wood bouncing happily over his thick skull, and no doubt scrambling his normally very keen senses, perhaps rendering him with a severe case of anosmia at minimum.

The Poplar.

'Back to the lumber-yard, Danny.' (Chevy Chase)