Eastern Cottonwood
Populus deltoides · Salicaceae (Willow family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Deltoid or broadly ovate with an acuminate tip and cordate or truncate base, unlobed
Margin
Crenate-serrate with rounded teeth
Arrangement
Alternate on a flattened petiole
Venation
Pinnate and reticulate with a prominent pale midrib and main veins
Key Features
Triangular deltoid leaf shape, flattened petiole, and coarsely crenate-serrate margins
Description
Large, fast-growing deciduous tree with deeply furrowed grey bark, producing catkins in spring and turning yellow in autumn
Habitat
Riparian zones, floodplains, and along streams in moist, well-drained alluvial soils
Native Range
Eastern and central North America, widely planted in urban and shelterbelt settings
Identified on 10/18/2026