just about 40 mintage of willows reach the size of it of tree in North America , and telling one from another require some specific willow tree cognition . willow require moist land , and tend to grow near H2O . You will often encounter willow tree diagram form dull copse along streams . Willow trees all sport short - stemmed leaves that grow in an alternate fashion on twigs . To key out dissimilar willow tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , observe the trees meticulously .

Step 1

valuate the stature of the willow tree tree . dissimilar willow raise to different size . A contraband willow can grow to 40 feet magniloquent , while the peachleaf willow of the Great Plains may be as marvelous as 60 feet . The weeping willow , a intimate ornamental from China , can be 70 feet high-pitched . Many willow trees , such as the pussy willow tree , are no big than tall shrubs .

Step 2

Examine the distance and width of the leaves of a willow tree to determine its species . valuate the leave-taking cautiously ; remembering that sometimes as piddling as 1/2 inch in size of it can help you key a specie . The Mackenzie willow tree has leaves that rarely are longer than 4 inches , while the sand bar willow tree has leaves that typically reach 6 column inch in distance . Most willow leaves are minute , with some more narrow than others . bleak willow tree foliage are under 1 inch in width , but those of a red willow are around 1 1/2 inches wide .

Step 3

Inspect the shape of the leafage of the willow tree . Most are lanceolate , think they have an elongated visual aspect with a rounded base . The leaf tapers to a breaker point , similar to the head of a fishgig . However , some willow pass on refuse the norm for the species . Bebb willow tree leaves are oblong and lack a narrow tapered terminal , although they possess a point . The Scouler willow of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Coast has ellipse rounded parting .

Step 4

Study the flowers of the willow tree tree . Willows are dioecian , with male flowers on one tree and female flowers on another . The bloom differ in appearing between species . The flowers of the peachleaf willow tree are 3 inches farseeing and full of sensationalistic , hair - comprehend scales , hanging from the trees in the give . The blossom of weeping willows are gullible and just an in in distance . The flush of the pussy willow develop before the leaves do in late wintertime or the first calendar week of spring . They are blackish with okay white whisker .

Step 5

search at the bark on the trunks . shape the colouring material and chequer the texture . Many willows develop ridgeline and furrows in the barque as the tree grows . Black willow becomes very scaly and the barque turns nearly black , give the species its name . Bebb willow bark on a mature tree diagram is rough and gray . weep willow barque possesses long , deep ridges and is a shade of gray on the old trees .

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