Trees of New York State 119 



SALICACEAE 



Siilix babylonica L. [S. pendula Moench.] 



Weeping Willow 



HaMt — A tree of characteristic habit, at maturity sometimes attaining a 

 height of 60-75 feet with a short, stout trunk 2-6 feet in diameter. 

 Crown broad, globose to globose-oblong, consisting of arching limbs which 

 bear long, pendant, leafy twigs, giving the tree a very bizarre appearance. 



Leaves — Alternate, petioled, pendant, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 3-6 

 inches long, %-% of an inch wide, long attenuate at the apex, wedge- 

 shaped at the base, finely serrate, at maturity dark green and glabrous 

 above, pale glaucous green beneath. Stipules small, semicordate, 

 fugacious. 



Flowers — 'Appearing with the leaves in April and May, dioecious, glandular, 

 borne in the axils of ovate-lanceolate, greenish yellow bracts, the whole 

 forming aments terminal on short, leafy, lateral branches. Staminate 

 ament elongate-cylindrical, densely flowered and usually curved, yellow- 

 ish, 1-2 inches long. Pistillate aments linear-cylindrical and greenish at 

 maturity. Stamens 2, with rather short, smooth filaments and yellow 

 anthers. Pistil solitary, consisting of an ovate, nearly sessile, smooth 

 ovary, a short style and 2 spreading stigmas. 



Fruit — A smooth, beaked, ovate, pale brown capsule opening by 2 sutures at 

 maturity to set free the minute, comose seeds. 



Winter characters — Twigs slender, yellowish green to browni, smooth, some- 

 what lustrous, drooping. Terminal bud lacking. Lateral bud 1-scaled, 

 oblong-ovate, acute, appressed, l/G-Vi of an inch long. Mature bark 

 gray, rather smooth, shallowly and reticulately ridged. 



Habitat — A moisture-loving species thriving along streams, about lakes and 

 ponds or on sites where the water table is close to the surface. 



Range — • Originally a native of Asia, whence its name, ' ' babylonica, ' ' from 

 Babylonia. Now widely cultivated in Europe and North and South 

 America. Established in many places through natural cuttings, the 

 twigs falling upon the surface of the water, and floating away to eventu- 

 ally find lodgment farther down, taking root, and growing into trees. 

 Zones A, B, and C. , 



Uses — "Widely used for ornament and shade, especially about artificial ponds 

 and lakes in city and suburban parks. Of no significance in this country 

 from the standpoint of lumber. A number of horticultural varieties are 

 recognized. 



