Handbook of Trees of the Xortiieiin States and Canada. 



S9 



This large and beautiful VVillOw, like the 

 Brittle Willow, is an immigrant from the Old 

 World, and so prolific is it and so adapted to 

 our climatif conditions that it is now growing 

 spontaneously on the banks of almost every 

 stream that Hows through the populated 

 regions of the middle and eastern states and 

 Canada. Its 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. 

 Willi short thifk trunk :i-') ft. in diameter 

 clotlietl in a dark gray bark rougli 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 

 to]i. 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- 

 poitance of prompt action. In a few yeiirs 

 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 adapted to 

 other uses to which it is applied in its native 

 land. 



Lrnrrs lanceolate, 2-5 in. long, tapering to base, 

 long acuminate, flnply serrate, silky hairy both 

 sides whpn young, glabrous at maturity and dark 

 green aliove, paler and glaucous beneath ; stipules 

 ovate-lanceo'ate, deciduous ; petioles '{i in. long 

 or less, slightly if at all glandular ; branchlets 

 glabrous, bright yellow or reddish tinted. Flowrrs 

 ai)pearing with the leaves anients terminatim; 

 lateral leafy branchlets, scales yellowish, falling 

 before the ripening of tlie fruit ; stigmas nearly 

 sessile. Fruit: capsul(>s narrow-ovoid, long- 

 pointed, glabrous, with very short pedicel. 



1. Syn. Salix alba var. vitvUina Koch. 



2. A. W., II, 46. 



