Black Willow — (Salix Nigra)
Shape short trunked, broad crowned, up to 90 ft. tall. Trunk often forking near the base. Bark rough, scaly, dark brown on old trunks. Leaves 2-4 in. long, lance-shaped, downy when young, short stalked, appearing with the flowers and turning lemon yellow in autumn. Range: N.B. to e. Dak., throughout the Middle West, and s. to Fla. and Ariz. Also in centr. Calif. SHINING WILLOW (Salix lucida) is a tall shrub or sometimes a small tree, the leaves when young covered with rusty or sordid hairs, but finally smooth, thick, dark-green, and shining on both sides. Michaux’s drawing of it, figured here, shows an unusually short-tipped sort of leaf, and he may perhaps have confused it with the Bay-leaved willow, Salix pentandra, or the Peach-leaved willow, Salix amygdaloides. The Shining Willow ranges from Newf. to Min. and s. to Pa., Ill., and Neb.