0.91] 



CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION 



163 



G. Leaves pale-downy beneath, often cordate at base. . . .8. 

 F. Leaves usually wider near the acute or acuminate tip, 



glaucous beneath. (I.) 

 I. Branches very twiggy ; leaves often opposite ; twigs 



olive-color or reddish 9. 



I. Branches not very twiggy ; leaves all alternate ...11,12. 

 F. Leaves very long and slender, almost linear 14. 



1. Salix nlgra, Marsh. (BLACK WIL- 

 LOW.) Leaves narrowly lanceolate, ta- 

 pering at the ends, serrate, smooth except 

 on the petiole and midrib, green on both 

 sides; stipules small (large in var. fal- 

 cata), dentate, dropping early. Branches 

 very brittle at base. A small tree, 15 to 

 35 ft. high, with rough black bark. Com- 

 mon along streams, southward, but rare 

 in the northern range of States. 



2. Salix amygdaloides, Anderson. 

 (WESTERN BLACK WILLOW.) Leaves 2 



to 4 in. long, lan- 

 ceolate or ovate- 

 lanceolate, at- s - nl8Ta " 

 tenuate-cuspidate, pale or glaucous beneath, 

 with long slender petioles; stipules minute 

 and soon falling. A small tree, 10 to 40 ft. 

 high, from central New York westward. It 

 is the common Black Willow of the streams 

 S. amygdaloides. of OMo to Missouri. 



3. Salix fragilis, L. (BRITTLE WILLOW. 

 CRACK- WILLOW. ) Leaves lanceolate, taper- 

 pointed, smooth, glaucous beneath (slightly 

 silky when young), serrate throughout; 

 stipules half heart-shaped, usually large. 

 Branches smooth and polished, very brittle 

 at base. A tall (50 to 80 ft. high) handsome 

 Willow, with a bushy head and salmon- 

 colored wood ; cultivated from Europe for 

 basket-work, and extensively naturalized. 

 Many varieties, hybrids between this spe- \ i 

 cies and the next, are very common. Among \' 

 them may be mentioned the following : 



8. frig-ills. 



