Part of the "poplar" genus Populus.  If the mid-vein=narrow and buds=slightly-hairy (rather than mid-vein=wide and buds=sticky), some sources call this the subspecies plains cottonwood Populus deltoides monilifera or Populus deltoides occidentalis or Populus sargentii.

Native to 🇨🇦 Canada and 🇺🇸 USA Great Plains, Midwest, East and South.

Uses by native peoples
(Ethnobotany database) Genus used as host by caterpillars of 367 species
of 🦋 butterflies and moths, in some areas.

Can form a hybrid with balsam poplar Populus balsamifera (also part of the "poplar" genus Populus), forming balm of Gilead Populus gileadensis .  It occurs occasionally in nature.

Learn more about eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides

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