WILLOWS : THEIR GROWTH, USE, AND IMPORTANCE. 3 
long and narrow, gradually running out into a long, usually curved 
tip. They are thin, occasionally sickle shaped, bright green, and 
rather shiny. In width they vary from one-eighth to three-fourths of 
an inch; in length from 3 to 6 inches, being usually about 3 inches. 
The buds are pointed, and one-eighth of an inch long. The flowers 
which are borne on aments terminal on leafy branches are from 1 to 
3 inches long, with short yellow scales. The bark has characteristic 
corky protuberances on branches from 1 to 3 years old. These are 
particularly abundant on vigorous sprouts grown in the open and 
more occasionally in dense seedling stands. The bark of old trees 
is from 1 inch to 1J inches thick, occasionally 2 inches. 
The black willow group is spread from Maine to central Florida 
and westward to central Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas, and through 
Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona up to northern California. Dis- 
criminating botanists break up the group into several species. 
PEACHLEAF WILLOW. 
(Salix amygdaloides Marsh.) 
The peachleaf willow ranks next to the black willow in economic 
importance. It reaches a height of 60 tO 70 feet and a maximum 
diameter of 2 feet. The species is most easily distinguished from 
the black willow by its larger and broader leaves, generally whitish 
beneath. The bark is also distinctly smoother and the ridges firmer 
than that of the black willow. The leaves are from 3 J to 5 inches 
long and 1 inch wide. The buds are a dark chestnut brown, and one- 
eighth of an inch long. In general appearance the flowers are very 
similar to those of the black willow. The peachleaf willow is closely 
related to the black willow, and the two species hybridize freely, 
producing intermediate forms. 
The range of the peachleaf willow is from northern New York, 
southwest (north of the Ohio River) through southwestern* Arkansas 
and northern Texas, and northeast to central Washington, extend- 
ing into Canada all across the continent. West of the Missouri it 
gradually replaces the black willow. 
SANDBAR WILLOW. 
(Salix fluviatilis Nutt.) 
The sandbar, or narrow leaf, willow in its various forms is typically 
a shrub, found in practically the entire United States. It is par- 
ticularly common on low river banks and on sand bars and new 
islands. A tendency to spread rapidly by root suckers makes it 
valuable as a soil binder. In the South Central States it has been 
reported as attaining a diameter of 2 feet and a height of 75 feet. 
This size is exceptional, and in the lower Mississippi Valley the 
