Part 24

WOOD.--Light, soft, weak, close-grained, light red-brown, with thick, nearly white sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Occurs throughout the entire state, but is more abundant and of greater size in the northern portions.

HABITAT.--Prefers river bottom-lands and borders of swamps.

NOTES.--Rapid in growth. Spreads from the roots. Most useful for shelter belts. Easily transplanted. Propagated from cuttings.

1. Winter twig, × 1. 2. Leaf, × 1/2. 3. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2. 4. Staminate flower, enlarged. 5. Pistillate flowering branchlet, × 1/2. 6. Pistillate flower, enlarged. 7. Fruit, × 1/2.]

+SALICACEAE+

+Hairy Balm of Gilead. Balsam+

Populus candicans Ait. [Populus balsamifera candicans (Ait.) Gray]

HABIT.--A tree 50-70 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-3 feet; more spreading branches than in P. balsamifera, forming a broader and more open crown.

LEAVES.--Resemble those of P. balsamifera, but more broadly heart-shaped and more coarsely serrate; more or less pubescent when young; petioles pubescent.

FLOWERS.--Similar to those of P. balsamifera.

FRUIT.--Similar to that of P. balsamifera.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud about 1 inch long, ovoid, long-pointed, dark red-brown, resinous throughout, viscid, very aromatic.

BARK.--Twigs reddish or olive-green, with occasional longitudinal gray lines, covered with a fragrant, gummy secretion, becoming gray-green; dark gray, rough, irregularly striate and firm on old trunks.

WOOD.--Resembles that of P. balsamifera, but is somewhat heavier.

DISTRIBUTION.--Indigenous to the northern portions of the state, but often cultivated and occasionally escaping in the southern portion.

HABITAT.--In a great variety of soils and situations.

NOTES.--Grows rapidly in all soils and situations. Suckers readily from the roots. Propagated from cuttings.

1. Winter twig, × 1. 2. Leaf, × 1/2. 3. Staminate flowering branchlet, × 1/2. 4. Staminate flower, enlarged. 5. Pistillate catkin, × 1/2. 6. Pistillate flower, enlarged. 7. Fruit, × 1/2.]

+SALICACEAE+

+Cottonwood+

Populus deltoides Marsh. [Populus monilifera Ait.]

HABIT.--A stately tree attaining a height of 70-90 feet and a trunk diameter of 3-5 feet; forming a spreading, open, symmetrical crown of massive, horizontal branches and stout, more or less angled branchlets.

LEAVES.--Alternate, simple, 3-6 inches long, nearly as broad; broadly deltoid-ovate; coarsely crenate-serrate above the entire base; thick and firm; lustrous, dark green above, paler beneath; petioles 2-3 inches long, slender, compressed laterally.

FLOWERS.--April-May, before the leaves; dioecious; the staminate in short-stalked, densely-flowered catkins 3-4 inches long; the pistillate in short-stalked, few-flowered catkins elongating to 6-8 inches; calyx 0; corolla 0; stamens very numerous, with red anthers; stigmas 3-4, spreading.

FRUIT.--May; 2-4-valved, short-stalked capsules, borne in drooping catkins 5-10 inches long; seeds light brown, densely cottony.

WINTER-BUDS.--Terminal bud 1/2 inch long, conical, acute, very resinous, shining, brownish.

BARK.--Twigs and young stems smooth, yellow-green; old trunks ashy gray, deeply divided into straight furrows with broad, rounded ridges.