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eastern cottonwood

eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
The eastern cottonwood tree may grow to 100 feet tall. Its bark is smooth and gray when young becoming furrowed at maturity. The simple leaves are arranged alternately along the branch. Each leaf is triangular, pointed at the tip and up to five inches long. Male flowers (on red spikes) and female flowers (on yellow-green spikes) are located on separate trees. Flowers open in the spring before the leaves unfold. The fruits are borne in ellipsoid capsules that may be up to one-fourth inch long.

BEHAVIORS
The eastern cottonwood grows in bottomland woods and along streams. It flowers from February through March.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Salicales
Family: Salicaceae

Illinois Status: common, native