Handbook of Treks of the Xoktiiehn States axd Canada. 



93 



The CJlaiinouM W'ilhiw rarely attains a 

 greater lieiglit man '^1) or 2.') ft. or greater 

 (liaiueter of trunk than 12 or 14 in., and com- 

 monly is no more tlian a large shrub with 

 numerous crooked stems fiom a common base. 

 When it attains the stature of a tree it de- 

 velops a rather wide rounded top with numer- 

 oas upright or arcliing l)ranclies and short 

 trunk. It is tlie common I'lissi/ Willoir in tlie 

 parlance of chihhun. wlio liail with delight its 

 enlarging hairy catkins as the first evidence 

 of approaching spring, and gather hunches of 

 its branches for home decoration. The tree is 

 indeed at this season a handsome object, and 

 when in full flower the luimming of numerous 

 bees among its branches tells us that they find 

 in its flowers their first harvests after their 

 l.>ng winter's rest. It is an abundant species, 

 growing along the banks of streams and low 

 wet meadows in company with other Willows, 

 Ashes, Arbor-VitiP, etc. 



Its wood is occasionally used for charcoal. 



A cubic foot when absolutely dry weighs 26.50 



Tjnrrft convolute in the hud. narrow oblong, or 

 oblong lanceolate, 2-5 in. Ions, acute at both ends, 

 remotely crenate-serrate, pubescent at first but 

 finally glabrous thick and firm, davk green above, 

 glaucous white beneath with l)road midribs ; 

 stipules somicordate and commonly caducous : 

 winter buds rather la"<re, purple and lustrous. 

 Floicers in earliest spring, liefore the leaves, in 

 dense erect sessile aments, 1 in. or more in length, 

 pale tomentose with dark red and tinallv blackish 

 scales covered on the back with long silky wbitc> 

 hairs : stamens '2. with IdU'j; glabrous lilaments ; 

 ovary villous with short style and entire spn^ad- 

 ing stiLrmas. Fniit capsules narrow vonical. 

 pubescent and with Ion- point. 



