These trees are in the willow (salicaceae) family, with the scientific name Populus alba. According to Pausanias, Hercules introduced it to Greece. In Greek mythology the White Poplar was consecrated to Hercules after he destroyed Cacus next to a hill of White Poplars. He bound his brows with a White Poplar branch as a token of his victory. Due to this tale, it became customary for victors in battle to wear garlands of White Poplar. The Poplar most probably got its name from its use in Ancient Rome to decorate public (or popular) places. It was known as arbor populi, or tree of the people. According to another story, Hercules on his way back from the Underworld garlanded his head with stems from a white poplar growing beside the Acheron, a memorial of the nymph Leuke (White) carried off by Pluto. After her death, Leuke was changed into a white poplar in Elysium.
The Grave Mound of king Pelops was surrounded by white poplar trees, here, beneath the August full moon, priests slaughtered a ram black ram, letting its blood soak the earth for the hero’s ghost to drink.