Handbook of Tkees of the jSTokthekx States axd Canada. 81 



The Shining Willow- is a small tree attain- 

 ing the height of 25 ft. witli a short tvunk 

 rarely 10 or 12 in. in diameter, but it is more 

 often shrubby than arborest-ent in habit of 

 growth. Its branches grow ii[irigh+ and out- 

 ward forming a rather briiad rounded top. [I 

 inhabits the banks of streams, lake-shores and 

 swamps in company with the (ilaucous and 

 other Willows, Alders, etc. among which its 

 shining bright green leaves nuiy be cjuickly dis- 

 tinguisheil. It is a species of ipiite wide dis- 

 tribution and greater abundance in the north- 

 ern part of its range than to the southward. 

 Economically the species is of little import- 

 ance, though its conspicuous lloucring aments 

 in early spring, and later its clean glistening 

 foliage, give it value for planting in suitable 

 localities for ornamental ijurposes. 



Lrarrs involute in tlic hiul. lanceolate to ovatp- 

 lanceolate, wedj^e-stiapcd or rnundeci at nasn, 

 mostly long-acuminate, tinely serrate, 2-6 in. Ion-.:, 

 coriaceous, covered w^ith scattr-rcd pubescence when 

 they unfold but finally .ulatirous, lustrous davl; 

 green above, slightly paler and with broad yellow- 

 ish midribs beneath ; petioles stout, puberulous 

 glandular at apex ; stipules small oblong or semi- 

 cordate, glandular-serrate. I'loircr.^ aments termi- 

 nating stout lateral leafy branchlcts, erect, with 

 thick tomentose peduncles : scales pale yellow, 

 rounded at apex, denticulate, glabrous above : the 

 staminate short, stout and densely flowered : 

 stamens usually .5 with long free filaments, hairy 

 at base ; pistillate ament more slender with elon- 

 gated long-stalked glabrous ovary and nearly ses- 

 .sile emarginate stigma. Friiil capsule long ovoid, 

 acute, much longer than the pedicel, lustrous and 

 often long persistent after liberating the seeds. 



