of New York 



45 



SHINING WILLOW 



Salix lucida, Muhl 



THE SHINING WILLOW, also called Glossy Willow, is an 

 attractive small tree sometimes reaching a height of 25 

 feet. It takes its common name from its shiny leaves and 

 twigs. 



The leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate to ovate, long- 

 pointed, finely 

 toothed along mar- 

 gin, shiny on upper 

 surface, 3 to 5 inches 

 long, 1 to V/i inches 

 wide. 



The flowers (both 

 staminate and pistil- 

 late) occur in droop- 

 ing tassels before the 

 leaves come out. 



The fruit is a 

 smooth pale - brown 

 capsule arranged in 

 drooping tassels. 

 They contain many 

 minute seeds. 



The bark is 

 smooth, bitter, and 

 reddish-brown. The 

 twigs are shiny, 

 stout, yellowish- 

 brown. The buds 

 are alternate, % of 

 an inch long, covered 

 by a single yellowish- 

 brown scale. The 



SHINING WILLOW 

 One-half natural size. 



It 



wood is soft, light, even-grained, white to light brown 

 is of little commercial importance. 



The Shining Willow has a wide distribution. It is found 

 from Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Pennsylvania 

 and Kentucky and west to Nebraska and eastern Montana. 

 In New York this tree is found in most sections of the State. 

 It is common in the Adirondacks, less commjon southward, 

 and rare on Long Island and Staten Island. 



The Shining Willow will grow on almost any kind of 

 soil with considerable moisture. Its dark green, laurel-like, 

 lustrous leaves make it attractive for ornamental planting in 

 cemeteries, parks, and estate. This tree acts as a soil binder 

 on areas subject to erosion. 



