Common throughout North Carolina, Black Willow is a medium-sized tree of riversides and other wet habitats. The leaves are long and thin, slightly resembling Willow Oak leaves, but finely toothed and more pointed. Other willow species have similarly shaped leaves, but are whitish or silky beneath.
Durham, NC 9/11/08.
A tree in full bloom. Black Willow flowers from mid-late April to early May.
Orange Co., NC 4/18/09.
The tiny flowers are borne in catkins. Black Willow is dioecious, so male (at left) and female flowers (below) are borne on different plants.
Staminate flower detail, with fly.
Orange Co., NC 4/18/09.
The leaves emerge at the same time as flowering.
Orange Co., NC 4/18/09.
Granville Co., NC 4/26/09.
Female flowers produce capsules.
Granville Co., NC 4/26/09.
Granville Co., NC 4/26/09.
Ripening capsules.
Chapel Hill, NC 5/2/09.
A short time after flowering, ripe capsules split to reveal numerous cottony seeds, which are quickly dispersed by the wind.
Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.
Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.
