Narrowleaf Cottonwood
Populus angustifolia
Poplar-Willow family (Salicaceae)

Narrowleaf Cottonwood is the dominant tree for miles along streams in Colorado and in the Southwest. From 6,500 feet to 8,500 feet it forms extensive stands along most streams where it commonly grows tightly packed, slender, and to 60 feet tall. Green leaves cover most trees from bottom to top because the trunk has a raggedy collection of small limbs, all of which produce leaves. Narrowleaf Cottonwood lower bark is rough and gray and leaves are long, narrow, and very finely serrated. Winter allows you to see the mass of interlaced branches characteristic of Narrowleaf Cottonwood. Contrast this growth pattern with that of Populus deltoides with its long branchless trunk and crown of leaves. Very old Populus angustifolia trees often loose their numerous lower branches and from a distance look very similar to Populus deltoides.

"Populus" is Latin for "people" and is the classical Latin name for the tree. "Angustifolia" is Latin for "narrow leaf." Populus angustifolia was named and first described by Edwin James.

Description

Pyramidal trees, dioecious, to about 60 feet tall, with interlaced branches on young trees, ascending as tree matures. Bark smooth except near base where it is in furrows and ridges. Twigs glabrous, yellow-green or orange when young. Buds 1/12" long, slender, long-pointed, very resinous and somewhat aromatic. Leaves mostly narrowly lanceolate, acute, rounded at base, serrate with margins somewhat revolute, green above, paler green below, glabrous. Petioles short, less than 1/3 length of the blades. Catkins 1/12 to 1/4" long, densely flowered, glabrous. Capsules broadly ovoid.

Field Marks

Tall narrow tree along streams with mass of intertwined branches on younger trees; long narrow leaves.

© Al Schneider