Handbook of Trees of the Koktiikijx Statk.s and Canada. 



95 



This stately tree is the hirgest representa- 

 tive of its genus, sometimes surpassing 100 ft. 

 in height, with trunk G-8 ft. in diameter. It 

 develops a full wide or rounded top with few- 

 massive branches, and these often spreading far 

 out extend their drooping branches and shining 

 dark green leaves over a very wide area. It 

 is confined to the rich moist soil of river bot 

 toms and the banks of streams and along those 

 of the mid-continental regions it is the largest 

 and most characteristic tree. East of the 

 Alleghany Mountains it is less abundant and 

 a smaller tree; still here and there con- 

 spicuously large trees are found. 



Tlie wood is light and soft, a cubic foot when 

 absolutely dry weighing 24.24 lbs., and is used 

 for paper pulp, in the manufacture of lumber 

 for packing cases and for fuel. Owing to ten- 

 dency to warp and difficulty in seasoning it is 

 little valued for lumber. In early days, how- 

 ever, before railroads crossed the western 

 plains the pioneer settlers found in the Cotton- 

 wood trunks material for building purposes 

 from the rough stockade to the houses and 

 buildings of their first villages. - 



Leaves broadly deltoid-ovate, 3-7 in. long, usually 

 abruptly acuminate at apex, truncate or slightly 

 cordate at base, crenate-serrate, entire at liasc. at 

 first jrummy with fragrant exudation but tinally 

 lustrous dark green above, pairr hciicatli : pctiidi's 

 loni;. slender, and laterally coiiipi^'ssi'd. I'lain is 

 (.\pril-May) : aments short-stalked ; staminate 

 stout and densely flowered. .{-."> in. lonu: ; stamens 

 numerous : pistillate at first smaller Init elongat- 

 ing as fruit ripens; scales glabrous, laciniate. 

 Friiit with ovoid 2-4-valved capsules, which liber- 

 ates in May their crowded contents of small light 

 brown seeds with cottony coma. 



y. (Irltoides occidentalis Rydb. is a western form 

 ranging from Sask. to New Mexico with leaves 

 broader at base, longer-acuminate and more 

 coarsely toothed with young branches shining, 

 light yellow." 



1. Syn. Populus monilifcra Ait. 



2. A. W., II, 48. 



3. For genus sec pp. 42G-4-7. 



