Associated Forest Cover
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Swamp cottonwood is sparse throughout its range and is not a major
species in any forest cover type. It is most often found in the
following types (2): Baldcypress (Society of American Foresters
Type 101), Baldcypress-Tupelo (Type 102), and Water Tupelo-Swamp
Tupelo (Type 103).
Common tree associates include sandbar willow (Salix exigua),
black willow (S. nigra), peachleaf willow (S.
amygdaloides), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), water
hickory (Carya aquatica), sycamore (Platanus
occidentalis), sugarberry (Celtis laevigata), red
maple (Acer rubrum), American elm (Ulmus americana),
pumpkin ash (F profunda), Carolina ash (F.
caroliniana), waterlocust (Gleditsia aquatica), persimmon
(Diospyros virginiana), and overcup oak (Quercus
lyrata).
Major small tree and shrub associates are waterelm (Planera
aquatica), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), swamp-privet
(Forestiera acuminata), and possumhaw (Ilex decidua).
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Climate
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The climate is humid throughout the range of swamp cottonwood.
Average annual rainfall varies from about 890 mm (35 in) in
northern Indiana to 1500 mm (59 in) in southern Louisiana.
Approximately 1140 to 1240 min (45 to 49 in) of rain falls
annually along the Atlantic coast, nearly half of it from April
through August. Yearly temperatures average 10° to 13°
C (50° to 55° F) in the North to 18° C (65°
F) along the south Atlantic coast and 21° C (70° F) on
the gulf coast. Minimum annual temperatures range from -29°
C (- 20° F) in the North to -1° C (30° F) in the
South. Frost-free days range from 180 to 300.
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Damaging Agents
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There are no reported insect or disease
problems associated specifically with swamp cottonwood. But the
ones that attack eastern cottonwood probably also damage swamp
cottonwood. Important insect enemies include the cottonwood leaf
beetle (Chrysomela scripta), cottonwood twig borer (Gypsonoma
haimbachiana), poplar borer (Saperda calcarata), and
the cottonwood borer (Plectrodera scalator). Among the
more important diseases are Melampsora leaf rust (Melampsora
medusae) and a number of canker diseases, including Septoria,
Cytospora, and Fusarium (7).
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Flowering and Fruiting
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Swamp cottonwood is dioecious.
Flowers are proteranthous, appearing from March to May. Staminate
catkins are rather stiffly pendant, oblong, cylindric, and 5 to
10 cm 2 to 4 in) long; pistillate catkins are 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6
in) long, pendulous, slender, and raceme-like. Pollination is by
wind. Fruits ripen and the seeds fall from April through July.
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Genetics
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The species is rare in tree collections and has received little
attention from geneticists. There are no reported races or
hybrids.
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Growth and Yield
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The largest swamp cottonwood trees on
record are 35 to 40 m (115 to 130 ft) tall and 165 to 190 cm (65
to 75 in) in d.b.h. (3,8). Trees are considered mature at about
30 in (100 ft) tall and 75 to 90 cm (30 to 36 in) d.b.h. Annual
height growth on poorly drained sites is slightly faster over a
30-year period than that of green ash, about 0.8 in (2.5 ft).
Diameter growth on a good site in the South may approach 20 cm (8
in) in 10 years (4). Swamp cottonwood grows little after 40 or 50
years and seldom remains sound after 80 years (4). Large trees
often are crooked and short boled. Trees with three merchantable
logs are exceptional.
Per-hectare volumes are unknown for this species since it is
nearly always a single tree or grows in very small patches. Based
on known volumes for eastern cottonwood (6), a pure stand of
mature swamp cottonwood would likely yield 280.0 to 350.0 m³/ha
(20,000 to 25,000 fbm/acre, Doyle log rule).
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Reaction to Competition
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Swamp cottonwood is classed as
intolerant of shade, though probably less so than eastern
cottonwood. Individuals may survive partial shade when they are
young, but older trees require full sunlight.
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Rooting Habit
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The root system of swamp cottonwood is
probably shallow like that of eastern cottonwood and most other
lowland species. Poplars in general have strong horizontal
surface roots from which vertical plunging roots develop. Length
of horizontal roots can be considerable. Plunging roots are
limited in development by the water table or soil condition.
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Seed Production and Dissemination
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Trees start seed
production at about 10 years. Reddish-brown obovoid seeds number
about 330,700/kg (150,000/lb) (9). Seeds are very small, light in
weight, and tufted with hairs, features that allow them to be
blown over 100 in (330 ft) by wind and to float for a
considerable distance in water. Water is an important
transporting agent since the bottom lands normally flood during
the seedfall period. Numerous seeds are produced annually, but
under natural. field conditions they remain viable for no more
than a week or two.
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Seedling Development
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Germination is epigeal. Best
seedling establishment is from seeds that quickly settle on
unshaded, moist mineral soil in shallow swamps, deep sloughs, and
along often-flooded creeks or rivers. Seedlings require nearly
full sunlight to survive and grow. They also need an abundance of
moisture, especially during the early part of the growing season.
Seedlings usually occur in groups but seldom cover a large area
(4). Early growth is relatively rapid but will not match that of
eastern cottonwood. On a well-drained soil in southern Illinois,
swamp cottonwood seedlings grew at about the same rate as silver
maple seedlings.
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Special Uses
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There is no market specifically for the small volume of swamp
cottonwood harvested. The wood resembles that of eastern
cottonwood and is generally sold as such. Among the uses for
cottonwood lumber and veneer are boxes, crates, and interior
parts for furniture. Pulpwood is used in high-grade book and
magazine paper.
To date, few other uses have been found for the species. It is
rarely cultivated for ornament, does not produce important
wildlife food, and is important to flood or erosion control only
in very small, localized areas. Instead of swamp cottonwood, a
closely related species, eastern cottonwood, is chosen for
planting because it outperforms swamp cottonwood on all except
the wettest sites.
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Vegetative Reproduction
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Cuttings from juvenile plants
will root but probably not as well as those of eastern cottonwood
(4). Stumps less than 30 cm (12 in) in diameter are likely to
produce sprouts.
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Distribution
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Swamp cottonwood inhabits the wet bottom lands and sloughs of the
Coastal Plain from Connecticut and southeastern New York to
Georgia and northwestern Florida, west to Louisiana. It grows
north in the Mississippi Valley to southeastern Missouri, western
Tennessee, Kentucky, southern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and
southern Michigan (5).
-The native range of swamp cottonwood.
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Brief Summary
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Salicaceae -- Willow family
R. L. Johnson
Swamp cottonwood (Populus heterophylla) is of secondary
importance among bottom-land hardwoods. The species, sometimes
referred to as black cottonwood, river cottonwood, downy poplar,
or swamp poplar, may grow on sites that are too wet for other
native poplars. It is a difficult species to grow from cuttings,
a characteristic that limits its commercial value.
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Populus heterophylla
provided by wikipedia EN
Populus heterophylla, also known as downy poplar,[2] swamp poplar[2] and swamp cottonwood,[3] is a large deciduous poplar belonging to the Populus genus of the family Salicaceae. This species can grow on sites that have too much water for other native poplars.[4] On the IUCN Red List this species is listed as "least concern".[5]
Description
Swamp poplar can reach a height 50 to 100 ft at maturity.[3] The trunk and branches are a light to medium grey, with the trunk being coarsely furrowed.[3] The leaves are alternate deciduous that are 4-6 inches long and 3-4 inches across.[3] Mature leaves are medium to dark green on their upper surface and pale green on the lower surface.[3] Petioles are 2-3 inches long and tend to be between pale green or pale yellow.[3] This species is pollinated by wind.[4] This species flowers in April and fruits May-June.[2]
Habitat
Location
This species is indigenous to warm, temperate regions in North America, although nowhere is it considered abundant. It is found in wet bottomland forests.[4] Swamp cottonwood can be found along the east coast of the United States from Connecticut to Georgia, as well as northwestern Florida and west to Louisiana.[4] It also grows in the Mississippi valley, Ohio and southern Michigan.[4]
Soils and topography
Populus heterophylla is typically found on heavy clays, but can be found on the edges of swamps (not within).[4] Ideal growth will happen in areas where the water table is near the surface for all but 2-3 months a year.[4]
Climate
Humid climate is common throughout the range of the swamp poplar.[4] Rainfall varies for this species based on how far north it is found. When found in Indiana the average annual rainfall is about 35 in (890 cm); as opposed to when found in Louisiana average annual rainfall is 59 in (1500 mm).[4] Yearly average temperatures range in the North and South from 50°F to 70°F respectively.[4]
Special uses
There are no special uses or commercial value for this species due to the similarity to Populus deltoides, which grows faster and easier.
References
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Populus heterophylla: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Populus heterophylla, also known as downy poplar, swamp poplar and swamp cottonwood, is a large deciduous poplar belonging to the Populus genus of the family Salicaceae. This species can grow on sites that have too much water for other native poplars. On the IUCN Red List this species is listed as "least concern".
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