COTTONWOOD* 



(Populus DelUndes) 



ELEVEN species of cottonwood are found in the United States, if all 

 trees of the genus Populus are classed as cotton woods. It is not 

 universally admitted, however, that they should be so classed. The 

 common cottonwood is the most widely known of all of them, but it is 

 recognized under different names in different regions, viz. : Big cotton- 

 wood, yellow cottonwood, cotton tree, Carolina poplar, necklace poplar, 

 broadleaf poplar, and whitewood. 



Its range covers practically all of the United States east of the 

 Rocky Mountains. It is rare or missing in eastern New England and 

 southern Florida, and most abundant in the Mississippi valley, and there 

 the largest trees are found. Some exceed 100 feet in height, and four 

 in diameter. Extreme sizes of 140 feet in height with diameters of from 

 seven to nine have been reported. The cottonwood was a frontier tree 

 on the western plains when settlers began to push into the region. It 

 grew as far west as any hardwood of the eastern forests, and was found 

 beyond meridian 100, which was supposed to be the boundary between 

 the region of rains and the semi-arid country. The cottonwood clung 

 to the river banks and to islands in the rivers, and by that means escaped 

 the Indian's prairie and forest fires which he kindled every year to im- 

 prove the range for the buffalo. It is supposed that most of the open 

 country east of meridian 100 was originally timbered, and that the 

 Indians destroyed the forests by their long-continued habit of burning 

 the woods and prairies every year to improve the pasture. Cottonwood 

 was the longest survivor, because it grew in damp places where fires did 

 not burn fiercely. Black willow was its most frequent companion on the 

 western outposts of the forests. 



The cottonwood was fitted for holding its ground, and pushing 

 forward. Its light seeds are carried by millions on the wind and by 

 water. The tree bears large quantities of cotton (hence the name), and 

 when the wind whips it from the tree, seeds are caught among the fibers 

 and carried along, to be scattered miles away. 



*The following species grow in the United States: Cottonwood (Populus 

 deltoides), Aspen (Populus tremuloides) , Largetooth aspen (Populus grantUdfntata), 

 Swamp Cottonwood (Populus heterophylld), Balm of Gilead (Populus balsami/cro), 

 Lanceleaf Cottonwood (Populus acuminate), Narrowleaf Cottonwood (Populus 

 angustifolia), Black Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), Fremont Cottonwood 

 (Populus fremoniii), Mexican Cottonwood (Populus mexicana). Texas Cottonwood 

 (Populus Tvislizeni). 



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