FolkKB

Alamo Cottonwood

Populus fremontii

Populus fremontii, commonly known as Fremont cottonwood, is a tree native to the western United States and northern Mexico. While it has been studied for its ecological and biological properties, there are no traditional medicinal uses recorded in any known medical traditions. Scientific evidence on Populus fremontii is limited but intriguing. A study found that heritability influenced leaf reflectance more strongly in certain spectral regions, while environmental factors significantly shaped intraspecific variation. Additionally, a new alphaproteobacterial species, Pseudogemmobacter sonorensis sp. nov., was isolated from Populus fremontii in the Sonoran Desert. In vitro studies showed that Sonoran propolis induced mitotic arrest in cancer cells, while Populus fremontii resins increased the G0/G1 population, indicating distinct cell cycle outcomes. Hybrid Populus fremontii trees were observed to show increased survival in warmer conditions compared to pure species, suggesting hybrid introgression may enhance climate resilience. Safety concerns for Populus fremontii are minimal; no major issues have been recorded. There are also no reported drug interactions associated with this plant.

At a glance
Best evidence
D
Cautions
—

Informational only. Traditional use does not mean proven effectiveness. Evidence and safety vary — check the cited sources.

What the science says

  • The study found that heritability influenced Populus fremontii leaf reflectance more strongly in certain spectral regions, while environmental factors significantly shaped intraspecific variation. D PMID
  • Sonoran propolis induced mitotic arrest in cancer cells, while Populus fremontii resins increased G0/G1 population. D PMID
  • Hybrid Populus fremontii trees showed increased survival in warmer conditions compared to pure species, suggesting hybrid introgression may enhance climate resilience. D PMID
  • A new bacterial species, Pseudogemmobacter sonorensis sp. nov., was isolated from Populus fremontii in the Sonoran Desert. D PMID

Frequently asked questions

What is Alamo Cottonwood?

Alamo Cottonwood (Populus fremontii) is a plant documented in FolkKB's traditional-medicine reference, drawn from sourced literature and cross-checked against the evidence.

What does the scientific evidence say about Alamo Cottonwood?

4 sourced findings are recorded for Alamo Cottonwood; the strongest carries evidence grade D. For example: The study found that heritability influenced Populus fremontii leaf reflectance more strongly in certain spectral regions, while environmental factors significantly shaped intraspecific variation.

How strong is the evidence for Alamo Cottonwood?

The strongest finding for Alamo Cottonwood carries evidence grade D — preliminary or traditional. Grades run A (strongest) to D (preliminary or traditional).

Is Alamo Cottonwood safe? What are the side effects?

No major safety issues are recorded for Alamo Cottonwood in our sources, but the data may be incomplete. Consult a qualified professional before use.

Does Alamo Cottonwood interact with medications?

No drug interactions are recorded for Alamo Cottonwood in our sources. This does not rule them out — check with a pharmacist.

Is Alamo Cottonwood a proven treatment?

No. FolkKB is informational only. Traditional use and early findings are not proof of efficacy or safety — consult a qualified professional and never self-treat.

Sources

  1. T2 Pseudogemmobacter sonorensis sp. nov., a new alphaproteobacterium isolated from the slime flux of a tree (Populus fremontii) in the Sonoran Desert (Arizona, USA). literature abstract metadata
  2. T2 Hybrid introgression as a mechanism of rapid evolution and resilience to climate change in a riparian tree species. literature abstract metadata
  3. T2 Disentangling heritability and plasticity effects on Populus fremontii leaf reflectance across a temperature gradient. literature abstract metadata
  4. T2 Sonoran propolis induces a pro-apoptotic effect through mitotic arrest: a distinct cell cycle outcome compared with its main plant source, Populus fremontii. literature abstract metadata

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