Biota of Marrowstone Island's Journal

Journal archives for February 2020

February 9, 2020

Which Willow

For the last month or so, quite a number of trees have been busy. It's a veritable orgy of tree sex going on right now. I'm almost embarrassed to mention Hooker's willow (for obvious reasons). But they have been blooming, and are almost done for the year. I'm sure many have noticed the pussy willows, and perhaps collected them as table ornaments.

Not so flamboyant are two willows I've been trying to separately identify for years. Scoulers and Sitka willows are very difficult to tell apart unless one can count the stamen. Trouble is, I've never seen either in bloom!

So fellow naturalists, should you notice a tree you think might be either of these species, please document the flower structure. Or better yet, alert me to its location.

Thank you,
Kurt

Posted on February 9, 2020 12:46 AM by kurtsteinbach kurtsteinbach | 3 comments | Leave a comment