We wanted to share the highlights from Apryl’s Tree Chat at our March Nature Day. Here are just a few interesting facts about Cottonwoods:
- Cottonwoods are a type of poplar tree (in the same genus as aspens – Populus)
- They are a pioneer species well adapted to living next to bodies of water, especially floodplains and sandbars.
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- A pioneer species is the first to grow in disturbed or damaged environments.
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- One tree drinks up to 200 gallons of water a day (compared to an oak tree, which averages of 50 gallons/day)!
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- Roots are shallow to limit time submerged during flooding.
- Each tree can have miles of roots!
- You can often see big roots starting from the base of the tree. These are called adventitious roots, and are actually formed from non-root tissues such as stems or leaves.
- Much of the water a tree takes up moves right through the tree and transpires into the air (so it is like a sponge, soaking up flood waters and putting it into the atmosphere)
- High water uptake also leads to rapid growth.
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- Cottonwoods are the fastest growing native tree in North America!
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- Fast growth means the wood is soft.
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- Cottonwoods live 80-100 yrs, relatively short for a tree!
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- This means they create a lot of snags, important habitat especially adjacent to rivers and lakes.
- Soft wood decomposes quickly, so they make good nurse logs and readily return nutrients to the soil.
- This grow fast, die young, decompose easily cycle is part of what makes them a pioneer species that can kickstart habitat development (or natural restoration). Creating soil through decomposition elevates banks and sandbars, creating land for other species to move into.
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- There is a long history of indigenous and commercial uses of Cottonwood.
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- Indigenous – Medicinal uses for lungs and to treat cuts/bruises. Used as an additive to paint and as glue.
- Commercial – short fibers make great wood pulp that mesh together well used for plywood and paper.
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Facts compiled by Apryl Corey.
Photo by Katherine Cory.