# Eastern Cottonwood

*Populus deltoides*

The rustling sound of its leaves is caused by their flattened petioles, which allow them to pivot in the slightest breeze to reduce wind resistance and cool the tree.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Malpighiales › Salicaceae › Populus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** wetland
- **Habitat:** Riparian zones, floodplains, river valleys, and moist lowlands.
- **Diet:** Autotrophic (photosynthetic, requiring abundant water and direct sunlight).
- **Range:** Eastern United States, Central United States, Southern Canada, Northeastern Mexico
- **Size:** 20 to 40 meters (65 to 130 feet) tall, with trunk diameters up to 1.8 meters.
- **Lifespan:** 70 to 100 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** River channelization and damming (which prevents the floods needed for seed germination), habitat clearing, and invasive species.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. Safe to approach and touch. Be cautious standing beneath mature trees during high winds, as their soft wood is prone to sudden limb breakage. If a branch falls and causes injury, seek medical attention immediately.

## About

Populus deltoides , the eastern cottonwood or necklace poplar , is a cottonwood poplar native to North America, growing throughout the eastern, central, and southwestern United States, the southernmost part of eastern Canada, and northeastern Mexico. It is a eudicot.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/e4c7e4d2-e0b1-438c-b16e-72d86640317d
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52119
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populus deltoides
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/39325100/medium.jpg (Sandy Wolkenberg, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.