Populus deltoides

Populus deltoides

Stacy Susann Slodysko
Higher Taxa
Genus: Populus
Family: Salicaceae
Order: Salicales
Group: Amenitiflorae
Subclass:Monochlamydea
Class: Dicotyledoneae
SubPhylum:Angiospermae
Phylum: Phaneogamae
Kingdom:Plantae

Taxa information provided by:
International Poplar Commission.Poplars and Willows in wood production and land use. FAO Forestry and Forest Products Studies, No. 12. 1958.

"Recognized by portion of petiole adjacent to leaf blade conspicously flattened perpendicular to the blade; by all or most blades bearing small glands at junction with the petiole; by leaves with a narrow translucent border. Rapidly growing trees to 47 m tall by 2.6 m DBH with a broad crown. Flowers in catkins 4-6 cm long, the female catkins enlarging in fruit to 15-25 cm long. Common, Swamps, alnd streams, moist lowlands, seepage slopes. Generally absent from south Appalachians. Rarely over 300 m elevation in the eastern United States, but occurs in the western US to above 1500 m."

Information provided by:
Duncan,Marion and Wilbur.Trees of the Southeastern United States.UGA PRESS.Athens, GA. 1988.

Leaves 3 to 7 in. long,3 to 5 in. wide, shape delate to ovatedelate; margin cernate-serrate, the teeth glandular; apex acuminate to acute; base truncate to cordate; surfaces lustorous green, glabrous above, somewhat paler and glabroous below; petiole fla teened, 1 1/2 to 3 in long, glandular; fall color yellow to yellow-orange
Fruit ca. 3/8 in long, ovoid, 3-or 4- valved
Twigs stout, angular, yellowish-brown, glaborous; terminal buds ca. 3/4 in long, narrowly ellipsoidal to conical, lustrous brown, resinous, covered by 6 or 7 inbricated scales; Lateral buds somewhat smaller, divergent
Bark light greenish yellow on young stems, eventually becoming ash-gray and dividing into thick, flattened or rounded ridges seperated by deep fissures
information provided by:
Harlow, W.,Harrar, E.,Hardin, J.,White, F. Textbook of Dendrology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. New York. 1991.

For image of P. deltoides click here.

Geography
Populus deltoidesBartr. ex Marsh.
AREA STATUS REFERENCES
North America Yes Duncan & Duncan 1988
Eastern North America Yes Duncan & Duncan 1988
Southeastern United States Yes Duncan & Duncan 1988
Southern Appalachian States Yes Duncan & Duncan 1988
Coastal Plain Yes Duncan & Duncan 1988
Piedmont Yes Duncan & Duncan 1988
Blue Ridge Mountains Yes Duncan & Duncan 1988
Great Smokey Mountains Yes FAO 1979
Ridge and Valley Yes FAO 1979
Cumberlanfd Plateau Some FAO 1979
Central Arch Yes FAO 1979
Georgia Yes FAO 1979
Clarke County Yes
Sam's Farm Yes Stacy Slodysko, Pers. Obs
Old field No Stacy Slodysko, Pers. Obs
Wetland ? -
Woods Stacy Slodysko, Pers. Obs
1 Hectare Plot No Stacy Slodysko, Pers. Obs

Natural History

This specie is the most important and the largest of the eastern poplars. It is especially common on moist alluvial soils through the plains and prarie states, where the presence of winding belt of green cottonwood crowns means that there is a stream or some wate nearby. Although not found naturally on dry soils, this species was planted extensively around homesteads by the early settlers, and has proved to be a drought-resistant.

Cottonwood is very intolerant and occurs in pure strands or open mixtures with such species as black willow, sycamore, American elm and some bottomland Oaks. In the south particularly, cottonwood may seed in heavily on old fields in mixture with sweetgum.

The Eastern Poplar liberates large quantites of silky-haired seeds which may travel by air or on the surface of the water for manymiles. The small seedlings grow initially very slowly. Propagation by unrooted cutting creates rapid growth among this specie s. Trees over 70 years old rapidly deteriorate, the maximum life span is no greater than two centuries. Insects and disease cause damage along with fire.

How to Encounter

You will find this species all over the eastern United States. It ranges in height from 80 to 100 feet and 3 to 4 inches in diameter. It has twigs that are yellowish-brown in color and a ash-gray bark, on adults. The leaves are oval shapes and have sereated teeth lining the edges. In the fall this tree can be seen having yellow to yellow-orange leaves.

For related information on the cottonwoods click here

References