Lance Leaf Cottonwood - Populus x acuminata
Ready Pay Gulch
East of Hillsboro
New Mexico, USA
Populus x acuminata is a hybrid between Populus deltoides and Populus angustifolia. Its leaves have a shape which is in between the narrow shape of the P. angustifolia and the cordate shape (heart-shaped) of P. deltoides.
We found this specimen growing in one of the washes of Ready Pay Gulch east of Hillsboro. The rock appears to be limestone. This is a rather strange place for a cottonwood to be growing. They are “survivors” but most of the time this is a very dry place.
P. angustifolia is a western species while P. deltoides is found in much of the United States. At one time Lance Leaf Cottonwood was considered a full species and not a hybrid.
