ANDBOOK OK TrKES OF TIIK jSToirrilKltX StA'1I;s AM) ("a.nai 



89 



Tlii.s large and beautiful WillOw, like the 

 Brittle Willow, is an immigrant from the Old 

 World, and so |)rolilie i, it and so adapted to 

 our cdimatie conditions lliat it is now growing 

 spontaneously on the haid^s of almost every 

 stream that Hows through the populated 

 regions of the middle and eastern states and 

 Canada. Jts bright yellow branches, especially 

 conspicuous in early spring before the appear- 

 ance of the leaves, are seen in greater abun- 

 dance even than most of our native Willows. 

 In size and habit of growth it is a noble tree 

 sometimes attaining the height of 70 or 80 ft. 

 with short thick tniid^ :{-') ft. in diameter 

 clothed in a dark gray bark rough with promi- 

 nent scaly ridges. It divides near the ground 

 into a few large branches, which radiate out 

 and form a rather irregular broad or rounded 

 top. It is a favorite ornamental tree in moist 

 localities and particularly adapted to planting 

 along the banks of streams and dikes to pre- 

 vent erosion. Sections of fresh branches 

 merely stuck into the wet soil in early spring 

 is all that is required. Soon these put out 

 leaves and grow with surprising rapidity, as 

 though cognizant of their mission and the im- 

 portance of prompt action. In a few ye.irs 

 they become large trees, sometimes increasing 

 in trunk diameter at the rate of 3 or 4 in. 

 in a year, and their roots firmly bind the soil 

 together. 



The wood of the Yellow Willow is very light, 

 soft, tough and of a light brown color with 

 thick sap-wood. 2 Its chief use in this country 

 is for charcoal and fuel, though adajited to 

 other uses to which it is ai)plie(l in its native 

 land. 



Leaves lanceolate. i;-."> in. Ions, taiiering to base, 

 long acuminate, fiiicl.v senate, sillt.v hairy both 

 sides when younj;, fi'ahroiis at maturity and dark 

 preen al)ove. paler and glaucous beneath ; stipules 

 ovate-lanceolate, deciduous ; petioles i.-s in. long 

 or less, slightly if at all glandular : branchlets 

 glabrous, t;right yellow or reddish tinted. F/outis 

 appearing with the leaves aments terminating 

 lateral leafy branchlets, scales yellowish, falling 

 before the ripening of 'the fruit ; stigmas nearly 



sessile. Fruit: capsules narrow-ovoid, 

 pointed, glabrous, with very short pedicel. 



1. Syn. Salix alba var. vitvUina Koch. 

 •2. A. \V.. II. tC. 



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