Trees of New York Slate 111 



SALICACEAE 



Sulix pcntaiidra L. | Sulix laurifolia Hort.] 



Bay-leaved Willow, Laurel-leaved Willow 



Habit — A small tree, 25-40 feet high ■with a trunk diameter of 5-10 inches, 

 often shrubby. Crown round-topped, symmetrical, consisting of wide- 

 spreading branches, the lower somewhat pendulous. Bole short, stout, 

 dividing above into several large, obliquely ascending limbs. 



Leaves — Alternate, ovate, oblong-ovate or obovate, l%-4 inches long, 4/5-2 

 inches wide, acute at the apex, rounded at the base, finely glandular ser- 

 rate, at maturity coriaceous, dark green and very lustrous above, green 

 and paler below, borne on short glandular petioles. Stipules broadly ovate 

 to semi-circular, i/4-V^ of an inch long, fugacious except on vigorous 

 shoots. 



Flowers — Appearing in April and -May, dioecious, glandular, borne in the 

 axils of hairy, narrowly ovate scales, the whole forming rather loosely 

 flowered aments which are borne terminally on short leafy branchlets. 

 Staminato aments long-cylindrical, 1-2 inches long. Pistillate aments 

 similar. Stamens 5, with long, free, smooth filaments and small anthers. 

 Pistil solitary, consisting of a smooth, narrowdy ovoid ovary which is 

 rounded and stalked at the base and attenuate at the apex, and 2 nearly 

 sessile, spreading stigmas. 



Fruit — A short pedicellate, smooth, lustrous, straw-colored or pale brown, 

 conic-subulate capsule; rounded and somewhat cordate at the base, 1/3-% 

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

 the minute, comose seeds. 



Winter characters — Twigs, slender, lenticellate, terete, smooth, lustrous, 

 greenish yellow, at length dull gray and roughened by the leaf- and 

 branch-scars. Terminal bud lacking. Lateral buds 1-scaled, oblong-ovate, 

 bluntly acute and smooth, greenish yellow, i/4-% of an inch long. Mature 

 bark dark brownish black, deeply fissured -with narrow ridges, scaly at 

 the surface. 



Habitat ^ — -Readily propagated and not exacting as to soil requirements pro- 

 vided a sufficient supply of moisture is available. Thrives on gravelly 

 or loamy, upland soils. 



Range — A native of Europe and Asia, extensively cultivated . but seldom 

 escaping in this country. Zones A, B, and C. 



Uses — An ornamental species largely used in parks, cemeteries, and private 

 estates because of its dark green, lustrous, laurel-like leaves. Of no 

 commercial significance in the United States other than the above. 



