The Willow genus (Salix) which is a member of the Salicaceae (Poplar) family, is an incredibly variable and amazingly successful genus, boasting a very long list of species. Willows are also notoriously difficult to diffentiate from one another, as characteristics change and overlap between species frequently. After long hours in the field and performing investigative research, I am able to positively identify some Willow species!
This first species is known as Beaked Willow (Salix bebbiana) which is also sometimes called Bebb Willow (presumably named after Bebb?) This Willow rarely reaches tree-size, and tends to stay quite low to the ground, often as a shrub.
The leaves are broadly elliptical in shape, with a wedge-shaped base and a quickly tapered point. Most Willow tree leaves are narrow, but on this species the leaves are broad. The upper surface is glossy smooth, and the underside pale but still smooth.
Another leaf shot. Some other Willow leaves are also broad, but these are the fattest Willow leaves around here! They somewhat look like Nannyberry (Viburnam lentago) but Nannyberry leaves grow oppositely, while this Willow species, as well as all others, have alternate growing leaves.
Young bark is light grey and smooth. Plants are multi-trunked the majority of the time and spread from underground roots to form thickets.
This first species is known as Beaked Willow (Salix bebbiana) which is also sometimes called Bebb Willow (presumably named after Bebb?) This Willow rarely reaches tree-size, and tends to stay quite low to the ground, often as a shrub.
The leaves are broadly elliptical in shape, with a wedge-shaped base and a quickly tapered point. Most Willow tree leaves are narrow, but on this species the leaves are broad. The upper surface is glossy smooth, and the underside pale but still smooth.
Another leaf shot. Some other Willow leaves are also broad, but these are the fattest Willow leaves around here! They somewhat look like Nannyberry (Viburnam lentago) but Nannyberry leaves grow oppositely, while this Willow species, as well as all others, have alternate growing leaves.
Young bark is light grey and smooth. Plants are multi-trunked the majority of the time and spread from underground roots to form thickets.