Handbook of Tkees iif the Xoir 



Ei;x States axd C'axada. 



93 



The (ilaur-oiiR ^^'illo\\■ rarely attains a 

 greater height tiian lJ nr 2-") ft. or greater 

 iliaiueter "i trunk than 12 nr 14 in., and eoni- 

 nionly i-^ nu nion.* than a hirge shrub witli 

 n;inieroas t-roDke^l stems friini a eo;n;ui>a b.\se. 

 When it attains tlie stati.ip uf a tree it de- 

 veh-»}K a ratlier wide roue.il,',! to|i with numer- 

 ous upright or are'aing hr.uK'!ies ae.d short 

 trunk. It is t'ae (■ouunon !'iis\i/ WiUuir in tlie 

 IiirhuuT of eliildnn. who h:Ml with dfliglit it- 

 e.dargirg hairy e ttkin^ as tlie first evi.leiier' 

 i:f ap]iro.U'hinL^ ~;:riiig. ami -athtT hunehes of 

 its branches for home (U^eoratiun. Tlie tree is 

 indee.l at tliis sea--o:i a h;tnil-ome olijeet. and 

 when in full llowur the linmming of numerous 

 bees among its bran;d)es tolls \is that they fiud 

 in its t]o\\ ers their hr-'t harvests after tlndr 

 long winter's rest. It is an abundant species, 

 growing along tlie hanks of streams and low 

 wet meadiiws in eoiupany witli otlior Willows. 

 Ashes. Arbor-Vit;e, etc. 



Its wood is occasionally used for charcoal. 

 A cubic foot when absolutely dry weighs 26.50 



Lrarrs- eonvnluro in thp laid, narrow oblong, or 

 oblong-lanci'olatp. --'» in. liai'j;. acuti' at both ends. 

 remotely crenate-sprrate. [ailipscent nt first but 

 finally glabrous thick and firm, dark green above. 

 glaucous white beneath witli broad midribs : 

 stipules somicordatp and e^mmonl y caducous : 

 winter buds i-athio- lar^-e. purple and lustrous. 

 Flowers in earliest spring, before the leaves, in 

 dense erect sessile aments, 1 in. or more in length. 

 pale tomentose with dark red and finally blackish 

 scales covered on the back with long silky whitp 

 hairs : stamens -. with lonir glabrous filaments : 

 ovary villous with short style and entire spread- 

 ing sti.gmas. FrNif capsules narrow \;onicah 

 pubescent aud with bing point. 



