willows: their growth, use, and importance. 3 



long and narrow, gradually running out into a long, usually curved 

 tip. They are thin, occasionally sickle shaped, bright green, and 

 rather shiny. In width they vary from one-eighth to three-fourths of 

 an inch; in length from 3 to 6 inches, being usually about 3 inches. 

 The buds are pointed, and one-eighth of an inch long. The flowers 

 which are borne on aments terminal on leafy branches are from 1 to 

 3 inches long, with short yellow scales. The bark has characteristic 

 corky protuberances on branches from 1 to 3 years old. These are 

 particularly abundant on vigorous sprouts grown in the open and 

 more occasionally in dense seedling stands. The bark of old trees 

 is from 1 inch to 1^ inches thick, occasionally 2 inches. 



The black willow group is spread from Maine to central Florida 

 and westward to central Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas, and through 

 Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona up to northern California. Dis- 

 criminating botanists break up the group into several species. 



PEACHLEAF WILLOW. 



(Salix amygdaloides Marsh.) 



The peachleaf willow ranks next to the black willow in economic 

 importance. It reaches a height of 60 tO 70 feet and a maximum 

 diameter of 2 feet. The species is most easily distinguished from 

 the black willow by its larger and broader leaves, generally whitish 

 beneath. The bark is also distinctly smoother and the ridges firmer 

 than that of the black willow. The leaves are from 3| to 5 inches 

 long and 1 inch wide. The buds are a dark chestnut brown, and one- 

 eighth of an inch long. In general appearance the flowers are very 

 similar to those of the black willow. The peachleaf willow is closely 

 related to the black willow, and the two species hybridize freely, 

 producing intermediate forms. 



The range of the peachleaf willow is from northern New York, 

 southwest (north of the Ohio River) through southwestern Arkansas 

 and northern Texas, and northeast to central Washington, extend- 

 ing into Canada all across the continent. West of the Missouri it 

 gradually replaces the black willow. 



SANDBAR WILLOW. 



(Salix fluviatilis Ntltt.) 



The sandbar, or narrow leaf, willow in its various forms is typically 

 a shrub, found in practically the entire United States. It is par- 

 ticularly common on low river banks and on sand bars and new 

 islands. A tendency to spread rapidly by root suckers makes it 

 valuable as a soil binder. In the South Central States it has been 

 reported si-; at taining u diameter of 2 feet and a height of 75 feet. 

 This size is exceptional, and in the lower Mississippi Valley the 



