Cottonwood

Cottonwood (Populus spp. /Salicaceae).  The genus Populus (Cottonwood/Aspen/True Poplar Group) contains about 35 species native to Eurasia and North Africa, Central America and North America. All species are identical at the cellular level. Cottonwood trees can attain heights of 190 ft with diameters of 6 ft. Populus sapwood is white and the heartwood is light brown. The wood is weak and soft and can produce a sour odor when wet. Tension wood occurs frequently and causes a fuzzy surface when cut. Cottonwood does not work well and is nonresistant to heartwood decay. It is used for agricultural implements, boxes, crates, cutting boards, food containers, interior furniture parts, lumber, plywood short bolts, pulpwood, veneer, and wooden wares.

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/TechSheets/HardwoodNA/pdf_files/popspeng.pdf.

Characteristics found in the Cottonwood (Populus spp.):

• Diffuse porous
• Simple perforations
• I/V pits medium to large (8-50)
• Homocellular, uniseriate rays
• R/V pitting foraminate or salicoid

WOOD SLIDES
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Radial section of Poplar (Populus sp.) showing a homocellular ray with foraminate or salicoid ray-vessel pitting on procumbent cells.

CHARCOAL SLIDES