6 BULLETIN" 316, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



its long drooping branchlets. These are tough and pliable, but the 

 older branches are extremely brittle. 



The leaves are long, narrow, and rounded at the base, light green 

 above and pale beneath. They closely resemble those of the black 

 willow in shape and those of the white willow in color. When young 

 they are somewhat silky, but are smooth when mature. They are 

 from 4 to 7 inches long and from one-fourth to one-half inch wide. In 

 one variety, Salix babylonica annularis, the leaves curl into a ring. 

 The bark on the trunk is from three-fourths of an inch to 1J inches 

 thick, dark brown, becoming green or yellowish above. Besides the 

 ring-leafed variety, a horticultural form with yellow twigs and a 

 hairy northern variety are frequently seen. 



The weeping willow is now widely planted as an ornamental tree 

 and has frequently escaped from cultivation over practically the 

 entire country. 



PACIFIC COAST WILLOWS. 



Besides the black and peachleaf willows there are five other species 

 in the Pacific Coast States that attain tree size. None of these, how- 

 ever, are large enough for sawlogs and they are important chiefly for 

 protection against erosion, although considerable quantities are 

 available for charcoal or excelsior. This region, however, has such 

 timber resources that it will be a long time before willow becomes as 

 important as it is in the East. Along the coast in Oregon willows 

 have been successfully planted as sand binders. 



Four of the western willows are important. The Salix lasiandra 

 (yellow willow) grows on the banks of streams throughout the coast 

 ranges, Sacramento to San Joaquin Valleys, and Sierra Nevada 

 southward to southern California and northward to British Columbia. 

 It is from 20 to 80 feet high with stout reddish twigs and brown, 

 roughly fissured bark. The 1-year-old branches are yellowish. The 

 leaves are from 4 to 7 inches long and from five-eighths of an inch to 

 1| inches wide with a long tapering point. The Salix laevigata (red 

 willow) is found along streams throughout California. It is a small 

 tree from 20 to 40 feet high with reddish 1 -year-old branchlets. The 

 bark is firmer and lighter in color than the yellow willow. The 

 leaves are also somewhat wider in outline. They are from 2\ to 7| 

 inches wide, green above and pale beneath. The Salix lasiolepis 

 (arroyo willow) is commonly found along streams from Washington 

 to California. It is a small tree from 15 to 40 feet high, easily 

 distinguished by the almost smooth bark on the trunk. The branches 

 are erect and have a yellowish bark. The leaves are shiny green 

 above and whitish below, from 1J to 5 inches long and from one-third 

 of an inch to 1\ inches wide. The Salix fendleriana (Fendler's 

 willow) grows along mountain streams from eastern Washington 



