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Cornell Junior Extension Bulletin 26 



11. BLACK WILLOW 



(Salix nigra Marshall) 



Black willow is the largest and most widely distributed of our native 

 willows, though it is rare above an altitude of 2000 feet in the Adiron- 

 dack's and in the pine barrens of Long Island. It prefers moist or wet 

 soils along streams or lakes but will sometimes be found on fresh, grav- 

 elly or sandy soils where it can get plenty of 

 light. It is of little importance as a timber 

 tree as it often divides into several crooked, 

 medium-sized trunks close to the ground and 

 the wood is soft and weak. It is used chiefly 

 for boxes, excelsior, pulp, and also for artifi- 

 cial limbs on accounts of its lightness. 



Bar k — thick, rough with wide ridges cov- 

 ered by thick scales, varies from light to 

 dark brown in color. 



Twigs — slender, smooth, somewhat droop- 

 ing, very brittle at the base, reddish brown 

 in color ; falling to the ground they may take 

 root and grow. 



Winter buds — terminal bud absent, lateral 

 buds small, sharp-pointed, reddish brown in 

 color ; only one bud scale. 



Leaves — alternate, simple, very long and 

 narrow, sharp-pointed, finely serrate mar- 

 gin, dark green in color above, pale green 

 below. 



Fruit — a smooth capsule, about % inch 

 long, occurring in large numbers on drooping tassels, ripening in the 

 spring, reddish brown in color. Seeds — within capsule, covered with a 

 dense tuft of long, silky hairs. 



11a. The shining willow is an attractive small tree of moist soils, used 

 extensively for holding soil in place where erosion is to be feared and 

 also for ornamental plantings. Its shiny, broad leaves and yellowish 

 brown twigs will help to distinguish it from the black willow. 



BLACK WILLOW 



Twig, leaf, and fruit, 



two- 



