Native Trees of Kentucky 21 



WILLOW FAMILY Saliciaceae. 



Considering- the trees in their natural order of development, 

 the Willow Family ranks as the earliest type among deciduous 

 trees. 



The family characteristics are : 



1 . Trees water-loving, rapid-growing-. 



2. Leaves alternate, simple. 



3. Flowers drooping catkins of two kinds, staminate and 



pistillate on separate trees. 



It is composed of two genera : 

 A. Genus Populus Poplars. 

 P>. Genus Salix \Yill<>\v>. 



The Poplars differ from the Willows in three points : 



1. Trees large. 



2. Buds large and resinous. 



3. Leaves broad, on long stems. 



The leaf stems of the Poplars are laterally flattened ; the trem- 

 bling, restless motion of the leaves is due to this peculiarity. 



In Kentucky, Poplars are represented by three native species : 



a. Cotton-wood Populus deltoides. 



b. Swamp Cotton-wood Populus heterophylla. 



e. Large-toothed Aspen Populus grandidentata. 



