SALIX 



1599 



^=^. 





2230. \Vhite Willow on a stream, holding the bank 

 from v\'ashin£r. Sue X'.>. G. 



The g-eiias i-^ rfpresriitpil hy sppi'i<_'> iu hotli cunti- 

 nenis. it i'^. h(_'W«-Vf r. iiiu<;li uKirf aitiujUaiit in imrTh 

 temperate rei^ii.>ns than lu >i.>iit1i. Iu tln^ t'ri,L;-iJ ivltiuds 

 are several species. S<j iLc </ rcf'fi ami si.'W^ral aili(-(l 

 speeies are among the few ■womly ])laiits t-xtt-inliiiL;' 

 into extrf lue are tic rt-i^ioiis. The arrtii- .siH-ciu^ ari_- 

 amoni? tlie most dimiuutivu of wooily ]phinr-^. As i>ni^ 

 goes soutli the species iucrrase in .-^izi-. Siune of the 

 species of north temperate. trM]iii';il ;i)i<l M:)nth tem].ifrate 

 zones are htrge trees. The arlicre^rrnt --[leuifS all form 

 wood very raj>idly. Specimens of ^\"hile "Willow which 

 may not be of great age look veneral.'le from their grotit 

 thickness. The wood is light in ^vei^rht and color, tinely 

 and evenly pon-us. The wo.mI has lieen extensively 

 nsed iu the ujauufactiire of u"iujpi>wder. It has also 

 been used for many orlier piirpM>es. LV-rtain species 

 have for many years Iteen exreu^irely fulTi\"aT(^d in Eu- 

 rope for materials with which to nianufariure baskets. 

 S. cii)iliu.(!is appears to lie the favorite speri<--. frir this 

 purpose. Basket Wilh.iw is imw extensively cultivated 

 in central New Yurk, and ciai^ideralile manufacturing 

 of this material is done there. 



As ornamental trees the Willows present little variety. 

 The bright yellow catkins of some species are attrai;iive 

 in sprint;. They are considerably used as "nurse trees'' 

 for slower growing trees that require partial shade 

 while young. The red and yellow branches of certain 

 AYillows are very bright and cheering in winter. The 

 weeping forms are very popular, but they are often 

 planted with little sense of fitness. The cultural le 

 marks under PopnJus will apply to Willows. 



Wdlows are rarely propagated from seed. The sef-ds 

 are very small and contain a green and sh(.'rtdi'\ ed 

 embryo. A very short exposure of the seeds to the m 

 will so dry them out that they will not germinate. Tlu 

 safest way to secure seedlings is to plant the seed 

 as soon as the capsule opens. Jlany hybrids h n 

 been described based on specimens found in nature that 

 presented characters intermediate between recognized 

 species. Artiticial hybrids have also been made between 

 many species. The di<i'cious habit of the species set ms 

 to facilitate cross-pollination, and it seems probal 1h 

 that the iriternjediate forms so freqtiently met with in 1 

 designated in the monographs as varieties are natur il 

 hybrids. Upwards of one hundred hybrid Wilh ws 

 have been described as growing in Europe. Althouj:h 

 as many or even more species occur in America, fe\\ei 

 hybrids have lieen detected here. The hybrids de 

 scribed as growing in America are for the most part be 

 tween native species and those introduced from Europe 



2231. Same tree as in 2230. in summer dress. 





2232 Old roadside trees of Sali\ alba 





101 



