Native Trees of Kentucky 23 



b. Swamp Co ft (in-wood Popiilns heteroph\l!a. 



The Swamp Cotton-wood or Downy Poplar is recorded as 

 the fastest growing tree native to America. 



In Kentucky its swamp associates are Red Maple, Tupelo, 

 Sweet Gum and the water-loving" Oaks. The Cotton-wood's su- 

 preme intolerance of shade soon causes it to outstrip its com- 

 petitors and assume the dominant position in the swam]). 



The wood is soft and extensively used for cheap furniture, 

 veneer core, and pulp wood. 



The annual seed production is abundant: the seeds are equip- 

 ped with fine, cottony hairs. 



A distinctive feature of this tree is the orange-colored pith. 



Tree large, with small crown. 



Bark brown, thick, scaly like Shaghark Hickory. 



Leaves broad and long, toothed, with cottony lining. 



Fruit pointed capsules; seeds covered with silky down. 



c. Large-toothed Aspen Populus grandidentata. 



In habit, distribution. Mowers and flattened leaf stem, the 

 Large-toothed Aspen resembles the other members of the genus. 

 The conspicuously large, incurved teeth on the scalloped margins 

 of the leaves are responsible for its descriptive name. 



The weak, soft wood is used for paper pulp. 



Tree medium size, with narrow, rounded top. 



Bark thin, pale brownish green, fissured. 



Leaves heart-shaped at base, coarse, thick, cottony on under 



N 



side, coarsely toothed. 

 Fruit cone-shaped, hairy capsules, filled with downy seeds. 



