Handbook oe Teees of the ISToetiieen States and Canada. 9c 



The Glaucoua Willow rarely attains a 

 greater heiglit ijian 20 or 25 ft. or greater 

 diameter of trunk than 12 or 14 in., and com- 

 monly 13 no more than a large shrub with 

 numerous crooUed stems from a common base. 

 When it attains the stature of a tree it de- 

 velops a rather wide rounded top with numer- 

 ous upright or arcliing branches and short 

 trunk. It is the common Pussy Willow in the 

 parlance of childrfn, who hail with delight its 

 enlarging hairj' catkins as the first evidence 

 of approaching spring, and gather bunches of 

 its branches for home decoration. The tree is 

 indeed at this season a handsome object, and 

 when in full flower the humming of numerous 

 bees among its branches tells us that they find 

 in its flowers their first harvests after their 

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

 growing along the banks of streams and low 

 wet meadows in company with other Willows, 

 Ashes, Arbor-Vitoe, etc. 



Its wood is occasionally used for charcoal. 

 A cubic foot when absolutely dr)' weighs 26.50 



Lrnrrs convolute in the bud, narrow oblong, or 

 oblong-lanceolate, 2-o in. lon-j:, acute at both ends, 

 remotely crenate-serrate, pubescent at first but 

 finally glabrous thick and firm, dark green above, 

 glaucous white beneath with broad midribs ; 

 stipules scmicordate and commonly caducous ; 

 winter buds rather lai-i*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 white 

 hairs ; stamens 2. witli long glabrous filaments : 

 ovary villous with short style and entire spread- 

 ing stigmas. Fruit ca!)su.lps narrow tonicat 

 pubescent and with long point. 



