Trees of New York State 109 



SALICACEAE 



Salix amygdaloides Anders. 



Peach-leaved Willow, Almond-leaved Willow^ 



Habit — A tree under optimum conditions occasionally 00-70 feet in heiglit 

 with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet and a single, columnar bole, usually 

 much smaller. Crown rather narrow, rounded, consisting of ascending, 

 spreading branches. 



Leaves — Alternate, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 2i/^-4 inches long, %-l 

 inch wide, attenuate-cuspidate at the apex, wedge-shaped or somewhat 

 rounded at the base, finely serrate, at maturity thin, firm, light green 

 and lustrous above, pale glaucous below, borne on long, usually twisted 

 petioles which divergei nearly at right angles to the twigs. Stipules 

 minute, fugacious. 



Flowers — Appearing in May with the leaves, terminal on short, lateral, leafy 

 branchlets, dioecious, glandular, in the axils of yellow, broadly ovate 

 scales, the whole forming an elongated, cylindrical, more or less erect, 

 hairy anient 2-3 inches in length. Perianth wanting. Stamens 5-9, with 

 long filaments and yellow anthers. Pistil solitary, similarly borne, con- 

 sisting of an oblong-conical, glabrous, long-stalked, 1-celled ovary, a short 

 style and 2 spreading stigmas. 



Fruit — A pale, reddish yellow, globose-conical, pedicellate capsule, about % 

 of an inch long, opening by 2 sutures at maturity to set free the minute, 

 comose seeds. 



Winter characters — Twigs slender, smooth, pale lenticellate, not brittle at 

 the base, orange or reddish brown. Terminal bud lacking. Lateral buds 

 brown and lustrous, 1-scaled, rather blunt, ovoid, about Vs of an inch 

 long. Mature bark brown, thick, irregularly furrowed and scaly ridged. 



Habitat — Typically found along the banks of streams, rivers, lake shores, 

 and on wet bottom-lands, rarely in dry gravelly and sandy soils. 



Range — Western Quebec through southern Canada to British Columbia, 

 central New York westward to Washington, southwest to Texas and 

 New Mexico. Zones B and C. 



Uses — Produces a soft, weak, close-grained, inferior wood, light brown witli 

 rather thick, white sapwood. Occasionally manufactured into cheap 

 lumber. Used locally for fuel and charcoal. 



