Eastern Cottonwood
Classification:
Family: Salicaceae, willow family
Genus, species: Populus deltoides
Leaves:
Leaves are large, triangular in shape. Edge of leaf is coarsely toothed, shiny green. Petiole is often bright red and is flattened sideways so leaves are always moving even in a slight breeze.
Bark:
Bark is yellowish-green and smooth on young trees, very thick and deeply furrowed on older trees.
Flowers:
Male and female flowers are on separate trees (dioecious), arranged in catkins, appear before leaves in spring. Male catkins are reddish-purple. Female catkins are green.
Fruit:
Fruit is a capsule, splits open to release numerous small seeds attached to cotton-like strands. Seeds are wind dispersed.
Habitat:
Cottonwood trees live along stream banks and in floodplains, often co-occur with willows.
More Information:
The genus name Populus is an ancient name for "poplar," literally "the tree of the people." The species name deltoides is from the Latin for "triangular-shaped" or "deltoid," referring to the triangular shape of the leaves.
Photos:Cottonwood leaf
Cottonwood leaves
Cottonwood bark
Cottonwood flowers
