124 THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



a tree. It is 15 to 25 feet high, with a rough dark- 

 brown bark, very common along streams from the 

 coast westward. The wood is soft and of little use ; 

 but when the stocks are of sufficient size, they are 

 said to make durable light timbers for boats. The 

 roots give an intensely bitter decoction, which is 

 thought by some to be good for purifying the blood, 

 and a remedy for intermittent fevers. 



2 Gray Willow. (S. tristis, Ait.) — A shrub 1 

 to 2 feet high, very much branched, of a dull gray 

 aspect on account of the young branches and leaves 

 being covered with an ash-colored down or wool. 

 The leaves are from 1 to li inch long with a hardly 

 perceptible stem, narrow, sharp at each end, but ta- 

 pering from the base towards the upper end, and with 

 the veins prominent on the underside. I have met 

 with this insignificant plant only in the mountain 

 counties. 



3. Bush Willow. (S. humilis, Marsh.) — Larger 

 than the preceding, 2 to 4 feet high, but of similar 

 general aspect, the leaves two or three times longer 

 and broader, and found both in the Middle and Up- 

 per Districts, rarely in the Lower. During Summer 

 the branches of this and No. 2 have cone-like excres- 

 cences on their ends. 



4. Silky-Leaved Willow. (S. sericea, Marsh.) 

 — This is 3 to 6 feet high, with leaves 2 to 3 inches 

 long, borne on conspicuous stems, pale, and with 

 silky hairs on the underside. 



The Weeping Willow (S. Babylonica) is common, 



