Populus deltoides

Petioles are flattened on a plane perpendicular to the leaf and there are 2-5 finger-like projections (glands) at the point where the leaf blade meets the petiole.

A fast growing tree with branches that root easily.

Stream banks, rich bottomlands, swamp forests, low woods, moist prairies, and river banks.

Trees were sometimes used to make dugout canoes and the wood makes good bow drill fire starters. Cottonwood is moderately light in weight, moderately soft, and moderately limber. It is moderately weak in bending and compression and moderately low in shock resistance. Shrinkage during drying is classed as moderately large, and the wood requires careful seasoning if warp is to be avoided. Cottonwood is low in resistance to nail-withdrawal, but does not split easily. It is difficult to work with tools without producing chipped or fuzzy grain, primarily because of the pockets of tension wood common to the species. It holds paint well. Much cottonwood is cut into lumber and veneer that is re-manufactured into containers and interior parts of furniture. Cottonwood is much used for pulpwood, and is one of the few hardwood species that is planted and grows specifically for that purpose. The pulp is used in high grade magazine and book paper.