Fremont cottonwood
Populus fremontii

Family: Salicaceae.

Type: Large deciduous tree.

Branching: Alternate.

Leaves: Simple, with a shape similar to that of aspen, but less heart-shaped, more flattened at the base. The petiole is flattened and perpendicular to the leaf blade, like aspen, and so the leaves of the cottonwood flutter like the aspen's. Margins are variably toothed, with rounded teeth.

Twig: Twigs tend to be a pale yellow, with long, resinous terminal buds. Bark is similar to that of the willow, with a braided appearance, on older stems, but is lighter than that of the willow. Newer bark is smooth and shiny, more similar to that of the aspen.

Fruit & Flower: Not discussed.

Miscellaneous: In the same genus as the trembling aspen, and the same family as willow. Cottonwoods reproduce asexually by fragmentation, and will deliberately drop branches by abscission to reproduce. The Fremont cottonwood is found in riparian areas in the Central and Santa Clara valleys, and towards the south. Another species, the black cottonwood, is found towards the coast and more northward.





All photos and text ©2008 Ben Haller. Permission is granted to use and reproduce these photos for any non-commercial or non-profit use as long as this original copyright notice is retained.