GLEBE TREES AND SHRUBS


Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

Leaves

Queen Elizabeth Dr between Landsdowne Park and Fifth Ave., May 10, 2008. The one on the right is a very young plant. The petiole is flattened vertically like trembling aspen and the leaves flutter in the same way.

Buds

Queen Elizabeth Dr at the Ritz Restaurant, Fifth Avenue. I am not 100% sure this is Eastern Cottonwood, but I think so. Queen Elizabeth Dr. I am not 100% sure this is Eastern Cottonwood, but I think so. Photo on right April 22, 2009

Bark

Left: Ralph Avenue at Brown's Inlet opposite Wilton Crescent, on April 26, 2008. Right: Queen Elizabeth Dr, between Fifth Avenue and Landsdowne Park, May 15, 2008. One on right is a younger tree, with the distinctive bark pattern beginning to develop. Queen Elizabeth Dr at the Ritz Restaurant, Fifth Avenue. I am not 100% sure this is Eastern Cottonwood, but I think so.

Flowers and fruit

Fallen catkins, April 28, 2008.

Special features

This big cottonwood was cut down in the Arboretum because of decay. It gives an opportunity to see how the wood looks in cross section. ay 16, 2008.

Similar species

Other trees in the same group as eastern cottonwood found in this area are balsam poplar, trembling aspen and large-toothed aspen. All are characterized by vertically-flattened petioled which cause the leaves to flutter in a breeze. They can be differentiated as follows: Balsam poplar leaves are very dark green on the upper surface. Trembling aspen bark is almost white, as if the tree was bandaged. Cottonwood bark is very furrowed and leaves shape something like European birch, with an elongated tip. List of trees and shrubs with alternate, simple, toothed leaves