TfiE Trees of Vermont 55 



SALICACEAE 



THE WILLOWS 



The gentis Sali.v is represented in Vermont by 25 distinct species 

 or varieties and by a number of hybrids. The majority of these 

 are shrubs, only a few becoming truly arborescent. Because of the 

 similarity of their botanical characters, the frequency with which they 

 hybridize, and the facility with which they respond to their environ- 

 ment, only an expert is competent to identify the species so abundant 

 along our water courses and on the banks of our lakes and swamps. 

 The scope of this work necessarily being limited, it has been deemed 

 best to describe but one of our native willows and one of our foreign 

 neighbors which is planted frequently. 



Willows are introduced commonly as shade trees because they are 

 propagated so easily by cuttings. Care should be taken, however, to 

 select the stamen-bearing trees, both because these are more ornamental 

 when in flower and because they do not produce the downy fruit which 

 often is disagreeable when willows are growing near houses. 



