The flowers are in loose catkins, less fluffy than Pussy Willows. Male and female flowers, borne on separate trees, form small, hairy seeds. The soft, finegrained wood is used to make artificial limbs; also for boxes, caning, and baskets.
Black Willow is found along many streams in the eastern half of the country. Its irregular, spreading branches, large size, and dark trunk make it easy to recognize. The thin, narrow leaves often have stipules, like tiny heart-shaped collars at their base. They are the only willow leaves uniformly green on both sides.
