﻿Trees of New Yorl- State 111 



SALICACEAE 



Salix peutandra L. [Salix laurifolia Hort.] 



Bay-leaved Willow, Laurel-leaved Willow 



Habit — A small tree, 25-40 feet high %yith a trunk diameter of 5-10 inches, 

 often shrubby. Crown round-topped, symmetrical, consisting of wide- 

 spreading branches, the lower somewhat pendulous. Bole short, stout, 

 dividing above into several large, obliquely ascending limbs. 



Leaves — Alternate, ovate, oblong-ovate or obovate, 11/4-4 inches long, 4/5-2 

 inches wide, acute at the apex, rounded at the base, finely glandular ser- 

 rate, at maturity coriaceous, dark green and very lustrous above, green 

 and paler below, borne on short glandular petioles. Stipules broadly ovate 

 to semi-circular, Y^-''^ of an inch long, fugacious except on vigorous 

 shoots. 



Flowers — Appearing in April and May, dioecious, glandular, borne in the 

 axils of hairy, narrowly ovate scales, the whole forming rather loosely 

 flowered aments which are borne terminally on short leafy branchlets. 

 Staminate aments long-cylindrical, 1-2 inches long. Pistillate aments 

 similar. Stamens 5, with long, free, smooth filaments and small anthers. 

 Pistil solitary, consisting of a smooth, narrowly ovoid ovary which is 

 rounded and stalked at the base and attenuate at the apex, and 2 nearly 

 sessile, spreading stigmas. 



Fruit — A short pedicellate, smooth, lustrous, straw-colored or pale brown, 

 conic-subulate capsule, roimded and somewhat cordate at the base, Ys-Vs 

 of an inch long, opening by 2 opposite sutures at maturity to set free 

 the minute, comose seeds. 



Winter characters — Twigs, slender, lenticellate, terete, smooth, lustrous, 

 greenish yellow, at length dull gray and roughened by the leaf- and 

 branch-scars. Terminal bud lacking. Lateral buds 1-scaled, oblong-ovate, 

 bluntly acute and smooth, greenish yellow, %-% of an inch long. Mature 

 bark dark brownish black, deeply fissured with narrow ridges, scaly at 

 the surface. 



Habitat — Eeadily propagated and not exacting as to soil requirements pro- 

 vided a sufficient supply of moisture is available. Thrives on gravelly 

 or loamy, upland soils. 



Range — A native of Europe and Asia, extensively cultivated but seldom 

 escaping in this country. Zones A, B, and C. 



Uses — An ornamental species largely used in pnrks, cemeteries, and private 

 estates because of its dark green, lustrous, laurel-like leaves. Of no 

 commercial significance in the United States other than the above. 



