38 TREES AND SHRUBS 



THE WILLOW FAMILY (Salicaceae). 



The trees and shrubs which constitute this family are well 

 known to all, including the cottonwoods, poplars, aspen and 

 willows of all kinds. They are soft wooded and rapid growing 

 trees of medium size or bushes of all sizes, from an inch or so 

 in height to several feet. They are widely distributed at prac- 

 tically all levels in the State, and are more universally used in 

 New Mexico as shade trees and for decorative purposes than 

 any other kinds of plants. 



The willows are represented in New Mexico by seven- 

 teen recognized species and it is possible that still others will 

 be found in the mountains of the northern end of the State 

 or in the extreme southwestern corner. Of these seventeen, 

 most of them are of very little importance and several of them 

 would not be recognized as willows by any one but a botanist. 

 Of these latter several species occur only on the high moun- 

 tains near or above timber line and form low brush from an 

 inch or two to three or four feet high. In the timbered regions 

 there are three or four species which form good sized shrubs 

 or small trees along the banks of streams. In the lower 

 valleys there are two important species which develop into 

 trees, and one or two lower forms occur mainly along the 

 ditches or in the river bottoms. The wood of the arborescent 

 forms is used to some extent as firewood, but is so light and 

 spongy as to be of little value. 



Cottonwoods (Po pubis spp.J. Three distinct species of 

 cottonwoods are native in the State and their use as shade trees 

 is well nigh universal. As trees they have several points in 

 their favor, and number most men among their friends, but 

 occasionally one meets a man who says he would rather have 

 no trees at all than have cottonwoods. His objections are 

 usually matters of personal taste, though he is apt to talk of 

 the dirt due to their "cotton" or the effect of the mistletoe. 

 The first of these objections is easily avoided by planting the 



