WILLOW FAMILY 



the shrub is to be recognized by its light greenish-brown 

 bark and its slender and ascending branchlets, which are 

 at first a dark reddish colour. The winter buds are purple. 

 Later come the catkins or " pussies," which soon put forth 

 the yellow stamens, and later appear the green leaves. 

 The Pussy-willow shoots develop roots and leaves in water ; 

 an interesting experiment is to grow a willow-tree in your 

 own home. 



In speaking of the Pussy-willow, Harriet Keeler says, 

 "The leaves and twigs of many willows are subject to 

 gall growths caused by the stings of insects. The great 

 cone-like buds an inch or more long and three-quarters of 

 an inch in diameter which are found at the top of the 

 branches of Salix discolor, especially, are an interesting 

 example of these. One often sees a Pussy-willow . . . 

 virtually covered with these monstrous buds. But open 

 one of them with a sharp knife and within will be found 

 the sleeping larva of a gall-fly. This bud is formed of 

 many overlapping scales which are crowded and modified 

 leaves, all diverted from their normal purpose and com- 

 pelled to serve as the covering of an enemy." 



Nineteen other members of the Willow Family have 

 been reported. 



54 



