Populus heterophylla L.

Swamp Cottonwood; Swamp Poplar

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Swamp Cottonwood is a large native deciduous tree in the Willow family (Salicaceae). It can be found along major rivers in north and south Alabama. Swamp Cottonwood occurs on floodplains, in swamp forests, and in disturbed wet areas. It is a large tree reaching 100 feet in height and 4 feet in diameter. The bark is smooth and reddish-brown to gray in color on young stems and deeply furrowed and reddish-brown to gray in color on the trunk. The branches are glabrous or slightly pubescent and 5-angled when young. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate in outline, glabrous or slightly pubescent, with finely and unevenly serrate margins. The petiole is round near the base and the lower surface of the leaf is pubescent at least basally and on midvein. Flowers are produced in axillary pendulous catkins before the leaves emerge. The male flowers have 15-35 yellowish stamens. The female flower has an ovary disc that is cup-shaped and 2-4 erect stigmas. The fruit is a capsule. The seed have a tuff of white fibers and are wind dispersed. Swamp Cottonwood is listed as a S2 species in Alabama (typically 6 to 20 occurrences, few remaining individuals, or factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G5 species (demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery).--A. Diamond

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Native OBL (NWPL) S2 (State Rank) G5 (Global Rank)

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