Eastern Cottonwood is the State Tree of Kansas. Populus deltoides is the scientific name of Eastern Cottonwood and it is commonly known as Necklace Poplar. It is also known as is also called southern cottonwood, Rio Grande cottonwood, Plains cottonwood, common cottonwood, Carolina poplar, eastern poplar, necklace poplar, and álamo. Populus are the genus of the Eastern Cottonwood and P. deltoides is its species. The Kansas’s State tree Eastern Cottonwood is belongs from the family of Salicaceae, which is commonly found in to North America, growing throughout the eastern, central, and southwestern United States, the southernmost part of eastern Canada, and northeastern Mexico.
When a state bodies select a symbol for the state it should be represent extra ordinary design, quality, availability, expression, and usefulness, cultural, traditional and religious back ground, which go back thousands of years or its popularities. The eastern cottonwood has a remarkable historical background that George Washington sat under this tree while signing a treaty. It is well-known tree all over the state Kansas for its distinctive beauty. On the basis of the facts mentioned above, on March 23, 1937 the eastern cottonwood was as the official state tree of Kansas. It is not only the State tree of Kansas but it is also State tree of Nebraska and Wyoming with its variety.
Facts about Kansas’s State Tree (Eastern Cottonwood)
- Common name: southern cottonwood, Rio Grande cottonwood, Plains cottonwood, Carolina poplar, eastern poplar, necklace poplar, and álamo.
- Genus: Populus
- Species: Populus deltoides
- Found in: North America, growing throughout the eastern, central, and southwestern United States, the southernmost part of eastern Canada, and northeastern Mexico
- Flower: Eastern Cottonwood trees have produces both male and female flower as pendulous catkins, appearing before the leaves.
- Bark: The barks of the juvenile Eastern Cottonwood trees are smooth, gray to yellow green color, which will ultimately develop in dark gray with fat edge and deep groove.
- Leaf: The leaves of the eastern cottonwood are arranged alternately, easy, pinnately streaked. It is triangularly shaped with a crenate or serrate margin. The length of the leaves is in between 3 to 6 inches long. The petiole is flattened and glands are present at the top of the petiole. It is very coarsely toothed, the teeth are bent and gland tipped.
- Fruits: The fruit itself is an egg-shaped capsule, which is about 1/2-inch long cottony seeds. The fruit ripens in late spring or early summer and divides into three parts.
- Purpose: ornamental.
- Symbolism: Luck, Healing, Protection, Rain, Fishing Magic
The Kansas’s State tree Eastern Cottonwood is native across the state and frequently is found nearby to rivers, streams, and around lakes. It is a fast growth rated tree, which provides the majority of the lumber processed in Kansas today. It is planted in riparian regions for sieve strips, and near streams to reduce sedimentation and stabilize stream banks. It also can be used in multiple row windbreaks for height and rapid defense. The eastern cottonwood prefers moist, well-drained, fine sandy or silt loams close to streams for its well growth. It also can survive on deep, infertile sands and clay lands.
The scientific name of The Kansas’s State tree Eastern Cottonwood “Populus” that means ‘peoples’ tree and it justified for its usefulness over the centuries. Some parts of this tree have medicinal properties. The compound salacin that found in most of the part like leaves, barks and buds is a remedy of fever and decrease inflammation and pain. The oil of cottonwood is very much helpful for various aspects like swollen arthritic joints and painful muscles. It is delectably aromatic and is ancillary to lip balms, body oils and curative salves. The body oil much effective for after-bath moisturizer. Some of the Americans native considered the cottonwood tree as a sacred tree. The Apache clan treated it as the symbol of sun, while some of northern Mexican tribes coupled cottonwoods with the afterlife, using cottonwood boughs in funeral rituals.
To sum up, Eastern Cottonwood is the people’s favorite State Tree of Kansas, which symbolized Luck, Healing, Protection, Rain, and Fishing Magic. Although it is an official State tree symbol of Kansas, it outstandingly represents and glorifies the spirit of Kansas culture.
Ref.
http://www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org/statetree_facts.php
www.ereferencedesk.com/resources/state-tree/kansas.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populus_deltoides
https://www.50states.com/tree/kansas.htm
www.netstate.com/states/symb/trees/ks_cottonwood.htm