Populus fremontii – “Fremont Cottonwood”

Family: Willow (Salicaceae)
Bloom Period: Feb-Mar
Form: Tree
Habitat: Waterways
Leaves: Cordate, slightly scalloped on margins; alternate
Translation: “Populus” is Latin for people, and metaphorically describes how the mass of leaves is almost always moving and nearly never silent; “fremontii” is named for John C. Frémont (1813-1890), known as “the Pathfinder,” a cartographer, explorer, and anti-slavery politician.
Notes: This tree is dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants, and is wind-pollinated. The “cottony” seeds it produces fill the air like snowflakes on breezy days. The virtually constant fluttering of the foliage can sound like running water, which is appropriate since the plant is an indicator of surface or shallowly sub-surface water. Growing up to 90 feet (27 m) tall, Fremont Cottonwoods are rivaled only by California Fan Palms in height in Joshua Tree Country. Their shade is certainly welcome on a hot sunny day. The active ingredient in aspirin, salicylic acid, is found in the bark of plants in this genus, so it makes sense that Native Americans used it as a pain reliever.
Native American Uses: The Havasupai ate the “berries” and the Pima chewed the green pods like gum and snacked on the catkins. The Cahuilla, Kawaiisu, Mendocino and Yuki used infusions of the bark to treat headaches, muscle strain and cuts. The Cahuilla also treated sore or injured horses with this infusion. The Kumeyaay used the leaves for bruises, wounds and bug bites. (The active ingredient in aspirin, salicylic acid, is found in the bark of plants in this genus, which explains their pain relieving qualities.) These tribes also utilized the branches and wood for a number of purposes including basketry, fence-posts, construction, firewood and making bowls, plates and drums. When the seeds started falling, it was time to start planting certain crops for the Havasupai.
Animal Associations: Larval food for the Carpenter Worm moth. Host to Big-Leaf Mistletoe (Phoradendron macrophyllum). On the topic of the Turkey Vulture, a.k.a. the “buzzard,” Jaeger writes: “In autumn, huge numbers of buzzards congregate in the thickets of cottonwood trees along the Mojave River. The birds remain together as if gathered for some sort of convention in preparation for their long southward migration. They roost in the trees nightly for a week or more. In the morning as soon as the sun is up, they spread their wings to fly aloft and soar in marvelous spirals. Occasionally they go through the same antics in the spring.”