BLACK COTTONWOOD Populus balsamifera ssp trichocarpa
the
black cottonwood is a subspecies of the balsam poplar
also
known as Balsam Cottonwood, Western Balsam Poplar,
Tacamahec Poplar
the
cottonwood is named for the seeds with the cottony
hair that float through the air like summer snow
the
balsam gets its name from the resin that has a sweet,
balsam odour
UNIQUE
FEATURES:
hardy,
straight trunked
fast
growing if have ample moisture and plenty of nutrients
of
all BC's broad leafed trees the balsam poplar if
the tallest
has
a resinous fragrance from the sticky buds
bees
use this sticky resin from the buds as a caulking
material in their hives
a
chemical produced in young twigs deters snowshoe
hare from feeding on them
LOCATION:
Balsam
Poplar: northern part of BC to east of Rockies;
rare on Queen Charlotte Islands and northern outer
coast of Vancouver Island
Black
Cottonwood: west of the Rocky Mountains
where
their ranges overlap they are often hybridized
prefer
areas with lots of light, favour floodplains and
moist upland sites
SIZE:
Balsam
Polar: up to 25 metres in height
Black
Cottonwood: up to 50 metres
FLOWERS:
male
and female catkins which are found on different
trees
male:
catkins, 2 to 3 cm long; female: catkins, 8 to 20
cm long
produce
large quantities of floating fluff (cotton) that
carries the tiny seeds
FRUIT:
hairy
capsules which release seeds covered in white, fluffy
hairs
LEAVES:
thick,
shiny, dark green with a pale, brown marked underside
6
to 12 cm long
may
be wedge-shaped with a pointed tip or oval
finely
toothed
cottonwood
has thicker, larger leaves
BARK:
when
young it is smooth and yellowish-grey turning dark
grey, thick and deeply grooved or furrowed as it
ages
WOOD
CHARACTERISTICS:
firewood,
short, fine fibres good for paper products
USES:
modern
- tissues, other paper products, resin covered buds
often collected for their scent, the resin from
the buds is used for natural health ointments
traditional
- cottonwood: wood - canoes, sideboards for riding,
cradles, firewood (the ashes were used to make a
cleanser for hair and buckskin, masks; roots - rope;
inner bark - soap, food; resin - adhesive
cottonwood
and balsam buds - resin from buds used to treat
sore throat , coughs etc, a balm was also made from
cottonwood buds to relieve congestion
balsam
poplar: bark - boiled as a poultice for wounds,
worm medicine; inner bark - food
BARK:
