Trees of the Northern United States Part 34

* Spray not decidedly weeping. (=A.=)

=A.= Rather small Willows, 10 to 30 ft. high, with broad leaves, usually not over twice as long as wide; cultivated. (=B.=)

=B.= Leaves glossy dark green on the upper side, taper-pointed 7.

=B.= Leaves with white cottony hairs beneath 10.

=B.= Leaves rough-veiny beneath 13.

=A.= Rather large Willows, 12 to 80 ft. high, with the bark of the trunk very rough; leaves more elongated.

(=C.=)

=C.= Petioles of the leaves not glandular; tree 10 to 40 ft. high. (=D.=)

=D.= Leaves green on both sides when mature 1.

=D.= Leaves glaucous beneath 2.

=C.= Petioles of the leaves usually glandular; tree 50 to 80 ft. high. (=E.=)

=E.= Young leaves green above and glaucous beneath 3.

=E.= Young leaves ashy gray or silvery white on both sides 4.

=A.= Small trees or almost shrubs, under 18 ft. high; bark of trunk rather smooth. (=F.=)

=F.= Leaves ovate rather than lanceolate, sometimes truncate or even cordate at base. (=G.=)

=G.= Leaves quite broad, shining on both sides. (=H.=)

=H.= Leaves bright green; twigs polished green 6.

=H.= Leaves very dark green, strongly fragrant when bruised 7.

=G.= Leaves pale-downy beneath, often cordate at base 8.

=F.= Leaves usually wider near the acute or ac.u.minate tip, glaucous beneath. (=I.=)

=I.= Branches very twiggy; leaves often opposite; twigs olive-color or reddish 9.

=I.= Branches not very twiggy; leaves all alternate 11, 12.

=F.= Leaves very long and slender, almost linear 14.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. ngra]

1. =Salix ngra=, Marsh. (BLACK WILLOW.) Leaves narrowly lanceolate, tapering at the ends, serrate, smooth except on the petiole and midrib, green on both sides; stipules small (large in var. _falcata_), dentate, dropping early. Branches very brittle at base. A small tree, 15 to 35 ft. high, with rough black bark. Common along streams, southward, but rare in the northern range of States.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. amygdalodes.]

2. =Salix amygdalodes=, Anderson. (WESTERN BLACK WILLOW.) Leaves 2 to 4 in. long, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, attenuate-cuspidate, pale or glaucous beneath, with long slender petioles; stipules minute and soon falling. A small tree, 10 to 40 ft. high, from central New York westward. It is the common Black Willow of the streams of Ohio to Missouri.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. fragilis.]

3. =Salix fragilis=, L. (BRITTLE WILLOW. CRACK-WILLOW.) Leaves lanceolate, taper-pointed, smooth, glaucous beneath (slightly silky when young), serrate throughout; stipules half heart-shaped, usually large.

Branches smooth and polished, very brittle at base. A tall (50 to 80 ft.

high) handsome Willow, with a bushy head and salmon-colored wood; cultivated from Europe for basket-work, and extensively naturalized.

Many varieties, hybrids between this species and the next, are very common. Among them may be mentioned the following:

Var. _decipiens_, with dark-brown buds; var. _Russelliana_, with more slender, brighter, and more sharply serrate leaves, the annual shoots silky-downy toward autumn; var. _viridis_, with tough, pendulous branchlets, and firmer, bright green leaves.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. alba.]

4. =Salix alba=, L. (WHITE WILLOW.) Leaves lanceolate or elliptical-lanceolate, pointed, serrate, covered more or less with white silky hairs, especially beneath; var. _caerulea_ has nearly smooth leaves, at maturity of a bluish tint; stipules small and quite early deciduous. Catkins of flowers long and loose, on a peduncle; stamens usually 2; stigmas nearly sessile, thick, and recurved. May, June. A quite large tree, 50 to 80 ft. high, with thick, rough bark, usually having yellow twigs (var. _vitellina_); introduced from Europe and now quite common throughout. Branches very brittle at base.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. Babylonica.]

5. =Salix Babylonica=, Tourn. (WEEPING WILLOW.) Leaves linear-lanceolate, ac.u.minate, finely serrate, smooth, glaucous beneath; stipules small, roundish, oblique, ac.u.minate; branches pendulous.

A large, gracefully drooping tree, so extensively cultivated for ornament as to seem native; from Europe.

Var. _annularis_ (Ring-leaved Willow. Curled Willow) has the leaves coiled round into rings and spirals.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. lucida.]

6. =Salix lucida=, Muhl. (SHINING OR AMERICAN BAY WILLOW.) Leaves thickish, ovate-lanceolate, with a rounded base, a very long ac.u.minate point, and a glandular petiole; when mature, smooth and shining on both sides. Twigs rather stout, polished, and dark green. Bark of trunk smooth. Fruiting catkins quite persistent. A beautiful small tree or shrub, 6 to 15 ft. high, of bushy form. New Jersey, north and westward.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. pentandra.]

7. =Salix pentandra, L.= (LAUREL-LEAVED OR BAY WILLOW.) Leaves ovate, taper-pointed, crenate, glandular, smooth, glossy, bright deep green on both sides, strongly fragrant when bruised. Catkins large, fragrant, golden-yellow, with 4 to 12 (commonly 5) stamens to each flower. June, after the leaves are expanded. A small handsome tree, 15 to 20 ft. high, from Europe, which should be more extensively cultivated in damp soils, as its form, flowers, and foliage are all beautiful.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. cordata. Var. rufescens.]

8. =Salix cordata, Muhl.= (HEART-LEAVED WILLOW.) Leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, heart-shaped, truncate or sometimes acute at base, taper-pointed, sharply serrate, smooth above, pale-downy beneath; stipules often large, kidney-shaped, and toothed, sometimes small and entire. Catkins appearing with or before the leaves along the sides of the stem; stamens 2; scales dark or black, hairy, persistent. Shrub or small tree, 8 to 20 ft. high, very common in low and wet places. Many named varieties are found.

Var. _rigida_ has large, thick, coa.r.s.e-toothed leaves; vars.

_myricoides_ and _angustata_ have narrower, finely serrate leaves, almost or fully acute at base.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. purpurea.]

9. =Salix purpurea, L.= (PURPLE WILLOW.) Leaves lanceolate, pointed, partly opposite, minutely serrate, smooth. Twigs olive-color or reddish. Catkins cylindric, with leafy bracts at base, and apparently 1 stamen to each flower (the filaments are united). A shrub or small tree, 3 to 12 ft. high; from Europe. In low ground; often cultivated for the twigs, which are used in basket-making.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. caprea.]

10. =Salix caprea, L.= (GOAT-WILLOW.) Leaves large, roundish, ovate, pointed, serrate, wavy, deep green above, pale and downy with soft, white-cottony hairs beneath; stipules somewhat crescent-shaped. Catkins large, oval, numerous, almost sessile, blooming much before the leaves appear, and of a showy yellow color. A moderate-sized tree, 15 to 30 ft.

high, with spreading, brown or purplish branches. Frequent in cultivation; from Europe; growing well in dry places. The Goat-willow is the one generally used for the stock of the artificial umbrella-formed "Kilmarnock Willow." The growth of shoots from these stocks is rendering the Goat-willow quite common.

[Ill.u.s.tration: S. rostrata.]