SALICACEAE 
Crack Willow. Brittle Willow 
Salix fragilis L. 
HABIT.—A tree 50-60 feet high, with a short, stout trunk 
3-4 feet in diameter; stout, spreading branches form a broad, 
open crown. 
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-6 inches long, %4-1% inches 
broad; lanceolate, long-pointed; finely glandular-serrate; thin 
and firm; lustrous, dark green above, paler beneath, glabrous 
both sides; petioles short, stout, with 2 glands at the junction 
of blade and petiole. 
FLOWERS.—April4sMay, with the leaves; dioecious; borne 
in slender, pubescent catkins 1-3 inches long; calyx o; corolla 0; 
scales blunt, somewhat pubescent; stamens usually 2; ovary 
abortive, with stigmas nearly sessile. Staminate trees rare. 
FRUIT.—April-May; 1-celled, long-conical, short-stalked 
capsule, about %4 inch long, containing many minute seeds which 
are furnished with long, silky, white hairs. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds long- 
conical, pointed, glabrous, bright red-brown, about %4 inch long. 
BARK.—Twigs pubescent, yellow-green, often reddish, be- 
coming glabrous, lustrous, brown; thick, gray on the trunk, 
smooth in young trees, very rough, irregularly scaly-ridged in 
old trees. 
WOOD.—Light, soft, tough, close-grained, red-brown, with 
thick, whitish sapwood. 
NOTES.—A native of Europe and Asia, where it is a valu- 
able timber tree. Hardy throughout the state and of very rapid 
growth. Thrives in rich, damp soil. Easily grown from cuttings. 
The twigs are very brittle at the base and are easily broken by 
the wind, hence the name Brittle Willow. 
