Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera W. Bartram ex Marshall (Aiton) Eckenwalder
eastern cottonwood (plains cottonwood)
Salicaceae (Willow family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

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Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera
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Species Information

General:
Dioecious tree up to 20 m tall; not colonial; branches yellowish-brown to grey; twigs yellowish, smooth.
Leaves:
Alternate, deciduous, simple, triangular, 4-10 cm long, 4-11 cm wide, the bases heart-shaped or squared-off, smooth, finely toothed and hairy, the teeth often callous-tipped, both sides green; leaf stalks 4-14 cm long, often with a pair of glands near the blade; buds finely hairy with fringed scales, resinous.
Flowers:
Borne in catkins; male catkins 5-9 cm long, soon deciduous, with 40-60 stamens; female catkins 8-15 cm long.
Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped, carpels 3-4, smooth, short-stalked.
Notes:
Two subspecies apparently occur in BC:

1. Winter buds smooth; emerging leaves long-hairy; flower stalks variable in length ....................ssp. Deltoides

1. Winter buds pubescent; emerging leaves smooth; flower stalks uniform in length (less than 6 mm long)..................... ssp. monilifera (W. Aiton) Eckenwalder

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

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USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Yellow
Blooming Period:
Mid Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: White
Present over the Spring
Source:  The USDA

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry fields and disturbed sites; rare in SC and SE BC; introduced from E North America.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Monilistus monilifera (Aiton) Raf. ex B.D. Jacks.
Populus besseyana Dode
Populus deltoides var. occidentalis Rydb.
Populus monilifera Aiton
Populus occidentalis (Rydb.) Britton ex Rydb.
Populus sargentii Dode
Populus sargentii var. texana (Sarg.) Correll
Populus texana Sarg.