Fifty Common Trees of New York 23 



14. COTTONWOOD 

 Carolina Poplar 



(Populus'deltoicles Marshall) 

 Cottonwood is an exceedingly rapid-growing, moisture-loving species, 

 occurring locally in moist places and along streams and lakes through- 

 out the State except at the higher elevations. The wood is light, soft. 



COTTONWOOD 



Leaf and fruit, one-half 

 natural size ; twig, one-third 

 natural size 



weak, and dark brown in color with thick nearly white sapwood, warping 

 badly in drying. It is used for pulp and for boxes. The cottonwood has 

 been extensively planted as an ornamental tree along streets, but as such 

 it has few merits as it is short-lived and the roots often penetrate and 

 clog drains and sewers. It is not easy to destroy, for, once cut down, the 

 stump continues to sprout vigorously. 



Bark — smooth on young trunks and branches ; light yellowish green in 

 color, becoming thick, ashy gray in color, and deeply furrowed with age. 



Twigs — stout, round or ridged below the bud, yellowish or greenish 

 yellow in color. 



Winter buds — -terminal bud present, large, resinous, glossy, smooth, 

 chestnut brown in color ; lateral buds smaller, in many instances bend- 

 ing away from the twigs. 



Leaves — alternate, simple, broadly triangular, from 3 to 5 inches long, 

 coarsely serrate margins, with long and laterally flattened leaf stalks. 



Fruit — a scattered cluster of capsules as in the aspens, though some- 

 what larger (3 to 6 inches long), arranged in long, drooping tassels. 

 Seeds — within capsule, numerous, small, surrounded by a mat of fine 

 hairs, ripening in the spring, conveyed long distances by the wind. The 

 cotton-like mat of fine hairs is responsible for the name "cottonwood." 



