Salicaceae

Salix nigra

Common Names: Black willow

Plant Form: Upright deciduous tree. Size: Up to 20 m tall. Stem: Trunk rough brown to grey with deep cracks, young branches purplish-brown shiny and smooth. Leaves: Bright green on both sides, 4-10 cm long, slender tapering to a pointed tip, with fine teeth along edges. Flowers: Male flowers yellow with no petals, female flowers green with no petals. Grounded in long cylindrical clusters. Fruit and Seeds: Straw coloured, oval-shaped capsules about 5 mm long. Seeds are covered in long silky cotton-like hairs. Habitat: Riparian areas, wetlands, swamps. Distinguishing Features: Distinguished from Grey sallow (Salix cinerea) by being generally taller, having a single stem, and having hairless leaves with toothed edges.