Racquel A. Francis

City College of New York

ENGL 21003: Writing for the Science

Professor Sonja Killebrew

May 7, 2020

Abstract

I have gathered information on a cottonwood tree in my backyard. My observation of my backyard tree is tall, with a light brown bark and light green leaves that sprout in the spring. This tree grows in Eastern regions and is quite tolerable to many soil conditions. I gathered my information through my window to avoid contact, but I was able to view the tree clearly. It was interesting to find out more about the resiliency of this tree and the cause of the fluff of seed within  the summer. It was interesting to learn more about my beloved tree, while understanding its role within the ecosystem and ways landscapers utilize it.

There is a huge cottonwood tree in my backyard that is over 20  years old, and it stands at about 40 meters in the back of my home. At the beginning of the spring, it fills with light green leaves and the limbs begin to bend because of the weight. In the first week of June, it will bud a sort of cotton-like substance that will grow until it falls off the tree and covers the sidewalks like snow in the winter. The bark of the tree is brown with a cool undertone of grey, and it is quite rigid with a few of its branches are at about 8 or 9 feet tall. It is surrounded by some flowers and leafy plants at the base of its trunk. Also, there is a bit of moss that is growing on the bark of the tree, which is a light green with yellow undertones. I am observing the tree on a partly cloudy Wednesday afternoon, the temperature is about 46 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is quite humid making the soil at its base very moist. 

The cottonwood is a part of the English willow, and a part of the Salicaceae botanic family. A young cottonwood tree can add 6 feet in height each year, but this rapid growth weakens the bark on the trunk. The rapid growth and wood density allows for the tree to be used as an affordable grade of timbre. This is a shade tree and acts as an essential resource for wildlife as protection by the bard and the twigs as food. It has shallow pesky growing roots, that can sometimes invade septic systems and is highly susceptible to ice damage. These trees are susceptible to a wide range of diseases including dieback, cankers, leaf spots, rusts, and powdery mildew. 

The cottonwood tree is native to North America, Midwest, and the Chicago Region. This tree prefers moist and well-drained soil but it is very tolerant of many unpredictable soil conditions, such as flooding, acidity, and poor drainage. It coined its name by the fruits and fluffy seeds that release at the end of Spring into the Summer. It is a perennial plant, meaning it persists for several years with new herbaceous growth and it can withstand the weather of each season. Cottonwoods are intolerant to soil salt so they can not be planted along beach shores; they’re compatible with marshy lands. Female trees like the one in my backyard produce a large number of seeds that have fluff attached to them. A group of dangling clusters sprout and disperse on female trees in May through June, the fluff on the seeds aid in wind dispersal. The fluff that disperses from the tree is associated with hay fever and allergies, which is caused by the pollen from the seeds. Some individuals are even allergic to the cotton that is attached to the seeds. The leaves grow in an alternate arrangement that grows approximately two to five inches long with a toothed detail, each flat-leaf grows up two inches long. The leaves are light green with a glossy surface that grow through summer and turn brown before falling off in Autumn. Their flowers produce fuzzy balls called catkins that are red (male) or yellow (female).

Here is a list of a few different species of cottonwood.

Eastern Cottonwood, also known as Populus Deltoides is one of the largest and fastest-growing trees in central and eastern climates. They are typically found along rivers or streams within a forest of other species of plants, and can grow between 65 to 195 feet. It received its name based on the delta-shaped leaves which range from 1.5 to 4.5 inches long, and have a distinct serrated edge. The bark is smooth and silvery on a young tree and with age the bark becomes hard, darkens in color, and develops deep fissures.

Narrowleaf Cottonwood, Populus Angustifolia, is part of the Populus and Salicaceae family that can grow up to 98 feet and their leaves lanceolate with scalloped edges. They grow in the Western regions alongside creeks and streams in high altitudes, commonly among the Rocky Mountains.

Finally, the Lanceleaf Cottonwood, Populus x Acuminata, is a hybrid between the Narrowleaf and Eastern Cottonwood. They are face growing trees that are distinguished by their lance shape. They can grow between 40 to 60 feet and spread 40 feet wide, which creates its pyramid-like silhouette. Also, it has dark glossy green leaves, hard bark and it does not produce seeds with fluff on them much like other species of cottonwood.

All in all I discovered that this specie of tree is great for landscaping, large areas, and acts as a shade tree within different environments. It was interesting to learn about my beloved tree and now I have a greater appreciation for its resilience to different weather conditions because this tree survived Hurrican Sandy. Which supports my findings of its ability to withstand flooding and other extreme weather conditions.

References

“Cottonwood Trees: Facts, Identification, Pictures, Problems, and More.” Leafy Place, 18 Dec. 2019, leafyplace.com/cottonwood-trees-facts-types/.