112 



WOOD AND FOREST. 



28 



Black Willow. 

 Salix nigra Marshall. 



8alix, fiom two Celtic words meaning near-water: nigra refers to the 



dark bark. 



Habitat. 



Leal. 



Habitat: (See map); 

 grows largest in southern 

 Illinois, Indiana and 

 Texas, on moist banks. 



Characteristics of the 

 Tree ; Height, 30'-40', 

 sometimes 120'; diame- 

 ter, l'-"2', rarely 3'-4'; 

 stout, upright, spreading 

 liranehes, from common 

 base ; bark, rough and 

 dark brown or black, of- 

 ten tinged with yellow or 

 brown ; leaves, lanceo- 

 late, often scythe-shaped, 

 serrate edges ; fruit, a 

 capsule containing small, 

 hairy seeds. 



Appearance of Wood: 



Color, light reddish 

 bro\yn, sa]i-wood, thin, 

 whitish ; diifuse-porous ; 

 rings, oliscure : grain, 

 close and Aveak; rays, 

 obscure. 



