This cottonwood is found along streams throughout the state. The tree is easily propagated by cutting and grows rapidly, hence it has been widely planted to get shade quickly. The tree is often unsatisfactory for shade because it begins to shed its leaves by midsummer. The cotton-bearing seeds from the pistillate tree are often a nuisance. The soft wood is easily broken by winds; and the rank growth of the roots often results in stopping drain pipes and cracking and lifting sidewalks.
EASTERN COTTONWOOD (Leaf, one-half natural size; twig, one-third natural size)
The LEAVES are [simple], [alternate], broadly [ovate] or triangular, pointed, square at the base, and coarsely toothed on the edges, 3 to 5 inches across each way, covered with soft white hairs on the under side, supported by flattened slender petioles, 2 to 3 inches long. The winter buds are covered with chestnut-brown, resinous [scales]. The male and female FLOWERS are in [catkins] on separate trees and appear before the leaves. The [FRUIT], a [capsule], contains a number of seed with white [silky] hairs which permit the winds to carry the seed for long distances.
The WOOD is soft, light-weight, warps easily upon drying, but is used for many purposes, sometimes as a substitute for yellow poplar and linden.
Three other species of Southern cottonwood occur in western Texas. One species, P. sargentii Dode, which has long pointed leaves, is found in the Panhandle.
BLACK WILLOW
Salix nigra Marsh.
Black willow is found along streams throughout the state. It rarely grows taller than 50 feet and is frequently found growing singly or in clumps along the water courses. In winter the easily separable bright reddish-brown or golden, [naked] twigs are quite conspicuous.
The [BARK] is deeply divided into broad, flat ridges which separate into thick plate-like [scales]. On old trees it becomes shaggy. In color it varies from light brown tinged with orange, to nearly black.
The LEAVES are from 3 to 6 inches long, and less than ½ inch wide; the tips are greatly tapered and the entire margin finely toothed. The leaves are bright green on both sides, turning pale yellow in the early autumn.