Cottonwood Leaf Abstract
by Nikolyn McDonald
Title
Cottonwood Leaf Abstract
Artist
Nikolyn McDonald
Medium
Photograph
Description
I collected these oddly-colored Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) leaves in eastern Nebraska in the late fall of 2022; this is the state tree, and it's common along streams and rivers and in other wet areas. Though unpopular with most homeowners, it is well-suited for acreages, farms, parks, and natural areas.
As is the case in so many places, Nebraska has experienced much drier than usual weather in the last few years and especially this summer. Woody plants are particularly susceptible to drought, and these trees are beginning to show signs of drought stress. Leaf scorch is often the earliest indication that a plant needs water; leaves affected by this condition brown from the outside and may have green only close to the mid-rib.
Leaves are colored by pigments and the dominant pigment is chlorophyll which causes leaves to be green. In autumn many plants stop making chlorophyll; other pigments start to show their colors and the leaves turn yellow or red. These cottonwood eaves had begun to brown from the drought though in many cases that just meant a paler, more washed out shade of green on the outside of the leaves. After a hard freeze, the green that remained near the mid-ribs and along the veins turned yellow. The result was an assortment of odd patterns in yellow and green or brown.
Uploaded
November 5th, 2022
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