Populus deltoides
 
Cottonwood

Female Catkin

Glenburn Regional Park
18-May-2008

Note that most, but not all, of the bracts have fallen off this catkin.

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Deltoides: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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bark of trunk deeply furrowed; NOT [bark of trunk (well above base) smooth (FOA)

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bark of trunk usually grey; NOT [bark of trunk light green or whitish] (FOA)

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leaf blades broadly deltoid to cordate; NOT [leaf blades suborbicular] (FOA)

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leaves NOT coarsely toothed (BF)

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leaf margins coarsely dentate; NOT [leaf margins finely crenate] (BF)

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leaf blades coarsely toothed, often crenate; NOT [leaf blades crenulate or nearly entire] (FOA)

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leaf blades 5-10 cm long; NOT [leaf blades 2-6 cm long] (FOA)

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petioles strongly flattened laterally; NOT [petioles circular in cross-section, not flattened] (FOA)

 

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Populus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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trees; NOT [mostly shrubs]

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winter buds covered by several scales; NOT [winter buds covered by a single scale]

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catkins soon drooping; NOT [catkins erect or divergent, rarely drooping]

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bracts below flowers mostly lacerate; NOT [bracts below flowers entire or merely toothed]

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flowers with a broad or cup-shaped disk; NOT [disk none]

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stamens usually more than 10; NOT [stamens 2-10, often 2]

 

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Salicaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 
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shrubs or trees; NOT [herbs]

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flowers with only one floral ring, with sepals but not petals

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male flowers, at least, in catkins or aments; NOT [flowers not in catkins or aments]

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seeds each with a tuft of hairs; NOT [seeds without a tuft of hairs]