Common Cottonwood

<em>Populus deltoides</em>, commonly known as common cottonwood or eastern cottonwood, is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree in the family Salicaceae. It is native to North America but has been widely planted and naturalized in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. Common cottonwood typically grows along rivers, streams, floodplains, and other moist bottomland habitats, where it can reach heights of 30 meters or more. The species is named for the cottony white fibers attached to its seeds, which are released in massive quantities in early summer and can create a snow-like appearance in the landscape. Its triangular, toothed leaves flutter characteristically in the slightest breeze due to their flattened petioles. Cottonwood is an important riparian tree providing habitat for birds, insects, and mammals. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.