Cottonwood

Populus deltoides

Family: Salicaceae

Location:

usually found along rivers and streams

Characteristics:

can grow to be one of the largest trees in North America (up to 100 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter
recognized by the shiny leaves that shimmer and shake in the wind
related to Poplars and Aspens

Leaves:

triangular
rounded teeth
flattened petiole that causes leaves to shake in the wind
turn bright yellow in fall

Reproductive Structures:

female trees produce small, fluffy white seeds that give this species its name

Bark:

deeply furrowed; thick and blocky

Uses:

Dead cottonwood trunks can provide a warm winter bed. A piece of this dried softwood can be used to construct the fireboard of a bow drill, useful for igniting a pile of tinder. The rotten inner bark shredded into small pieces is an excellent tinder material or can be twisted into cordage.