38 



Common Trees 



BLACK WILLOW 



Salix nigra, Marshall 



THE Black Willow reaches the largest size and has the 

 widest distribution of any native American; Willow. 

 It is the only native willow of timber size, sometimes reach- 

 ing a height of 80 feet and a diameter of 4 feet. 



It can always be distinguished by its simple, alternate, 

 long, narrow, sharp- 

 pointed leaves, 3 to 6 

 inches long. At the 

 base of the short leaf- 

 stalk round leaf-like 

 appendages often 

 clasp the twigs. 



The flowers are of 

 two different kinds. 

 Both are arranged in 

 short, stubby spikes. 

 The pollen - bearing 

 and seed - producing 

 always occur on dif- 

 ferent trees. The 

 seeds are minute, bear 

 dense tufts of long 

 silky down, occur in 

 large numbers in 

 small capsules on 

 drooping tassels. 



The bark varies 

 from light brown to 

 dark brown and 

 black. On old 

 trunks it becomes fur- 

 rowed and peels off in 

 scales. The branches 

 are slender, brittle, somewhat drooping. The buds arc 

 sharp-pointed, ^ of an inch long, covered by a single red- 

 dish-brown scale. 



The wood is pale reddish-brown, used chiefly in boxes, 

 excelsior, charcoal, pulp, and artificial limbs. 



The Black Willow occurs from New Brunswick to 

 Florida, west to the Dakotas and southern Mexico. It is 

 generally distributed throughout Ohio along streams and 

 depressions in flood plains. One usually finds it in wet 

 places, but it will grow on dry situations. 



BLACK WILLOW 



One-fourth natural size, except 2, 4, 6 and 

 which are enlarged. 



