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The biggest plains cottonwood.


Common Name                   Plains cottonwood

Scientific Name               Populus deltoides var
                              occidentalis

Location                      Hygiene, Colorado

Nominator                     Allegra Collister

Owner                         Willis Marlatt

Most Recent Measurement       1967

Circumference at 4 1/2 ft.    432 in.

Height                        105 ft.

Crown Spread                  93 ft.

Total Points                  560


They called this tree the divining rod divining rod or dowser, stick used in searching for underground water or minerals. This form of divination is still in common use in many parts of the world. The instrument is typically a forked twig.  of the prairies. Appropriately, its champion drinks from an irrigation irrigation, in agriculture, artificial watering of the land. Although used chiefly in regions with annual rainfall of less than 20 in. (51 cm), it is also used in wetter areas to grow certain crops, e.g., rice.  ditch.

The plains cottonwood cottonwood: see willow.
cottonwood

Any of several fast-growing North American trees of the genus Populus. Members of the willow family, cottonwoods have heart-shaped, toothed leaves and cottony seeds. The dangling leaves clatter in the wind.
 is good for what ails you--and more. Take, for example, cottonwood-bark tea. "It is a hell of a drink, a wonderful astringent astringent (əstrĭn`jənt), substance that shrinks body tissues. Astringent medicines cause shrinkage of mucous membranes or exposed tissues and are often used internally to check discharge of serum or mucous secretions in sore throat, , and a bitter dose. But it is a sure shot." So remarked Charles Goodnight Charles Goodnight born on (March 5, 1836 – December 12, 1929) was a cattle rancher in the American West. He was born in Macoupin County, Illinois, the fourth child of Charles and Charlotte (Collier) Goodnight. Goodnight is very well known in Canyon and Amarillo, Texas. , famous Texas cattle rancher, in describing the cowboy's cure for drinking bad water.

If you had a thirst problem out on the Great Plains, it could usually be solved by the plains cottonwood, the divining rod of the prairies. All across that ocean of grass, cottonwoods lined the rivers and signposted the sloughs, ponds, and buffalo wallows--indicating the presence of water to Indians and pioneers alike. These stately trees provided shelter from storms, fuel to ward off the cold, and shade to relieve the summer heat. As the only substantial tree on that 400-mile grass plain, the cottonwood was used by settlers for everything from cribs Cribs may mean:
  • The Cribs, a band from the United Kingdom
  • MTV Cribs, a reality television program on MTV
  • Crib can refer to an assumed section of text in a coded message that assists a code-breaker (also referred to as "known-plaintext attack)".
 to coffins.

The plains Indians The Plains Indians are the Indians who lived on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains of North America. Their greatest dominance lasted from approximately 1750 to 1890.  taught the explorers and pioneers to feed their horses on the sweet inner bark of cottonwood trees when snow covered the ground. Unfortunately for the Indians, General George Custer also learned this to his advantage in the 1869 winter campaigns against the tribes south of the Arkansas. Indians also used the leaf buds to make a yellow dye. Their children made toy wigwams out of the leaves.

Cottonwoods rarely live longer than a century before they succumb suc·cumb  
intr.v. suc·cumbed, suc·cumb·ing, suc·cumbs
1. To submit to an overpowering force or yield to an overwhelming desire; give up or give in. See Synonyms at yield.

2. To die.
 to decay, but they make the most out of life with a very high growth rate. It takes only 15 years for a cottonwood to reach 60 feet in height, and after 50 years it may already be six feet in diameter!

The biggest plains cottonwood, ranking 17th in total score among all National Champion trees, benefits from growing a few yards below an elevated irrigation ditch. But the champion's growing site doesn't mean its size is an anomaly; champions of two other cottonwoods, the Fremont and eastern, rank No. 16 and 20, respectively.
COPYRIGHT 1993 American Forests
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1993, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:Programs
Author:Bronaugh, Whit
Publication:American Forests
Date:Jul 1, 1993
Words:380
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