91 



SHINING WILLOW. 

 Salix lucida, Muhlenberg. 



FORM — A shrub or small tree sometimes reaching a height of 25 ft. with a diameter of 8 

 inches. TruuK short, bearing rather ascending branches which form a rather symmetrical and 

 broad crown. 



BARK — Smooth, thin, bitter, brown to reddish-brown. 

 TWIGS — Shining, yellowish-brown, later dark brown. 



BUDS — Alternate, smooth, ovate, pointed, about I of an inch long, covered by a single yel- 

 lowish-brown scale. 



LEAVES — Alternate, simple, broadly lanceolate to ovate, long-pointed at apex, tapering or 

 rounded at base, finely toothed on margin, smooth and shining above, paler below. 



LEAF-SCARS — Alternate, somewhat raised, lunate, with 3 conspicuous bundle-scars. 



FLOWERS — Appear in catkins about April before the leaves have unfolded. Staminate and 

 pistillate flowers occur on separate trees. The staminate have five stamens, and are arranged 

 in dense flowered catkins about 1 to li inches long. The pistillate are arranged in slender catkins 

 irom li-2 inches long. 



FRUIT — A narrowly-ovoid, smooth, dull, evidently-stalked, straw-colored to pale brown or 

 greenish capsule which is evidently-rounded at the base. 



WOOD — Same as that of other Willows. See description under Black Willow, page 90. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Shining Willow, also known as Glossy Willow, 

 may be distinguished by its shining leaves which are lanceolate to ovate in outline, and by its 

 glandular petioles and stipules. The shining brownish or yellowish twigs are also characteristic. 

 The capsules are smooth and the staminate flowers usually have 5 stamens. 



RANGE — Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Pennsylvania, west to Kentucky and Nebraska. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Locally throughout the State except in the southern 

 part. 



HABITAT — Prefers wet habitats. Common along streams, on islands, and in wet semi-boggy 

 situations. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES— The Shining Willow is a very common shrub or small tree 

 in wet situations throughout this State. The wood is of no commercial importance. The tree 

 often acts as a soil binder upon areas where erosion is to be feared. It is also one of the most 

 attractive of our small Willows, both in its natural haunts and artificial environments. 



