| Family: | Salicaceae |
|---|---|
| Common name: | willow/poplar family [Zomlefer, pp. 114-116] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 4 genera; ~350 - 500 species U.S.: 2 genera PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 2 genera |
| Flower -- Vegetative Features -- Economic Importance -- Flower Images-- Web Sites | |
| Flower | |
|---|---|
| K0 Co0 S2-x
K0 Co0 P (2-4) |
|
| Sexuality: | unisexual, (plants dioecious) |
| Symmetry: | actinomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | catkins, erect or pendulous, with flowers found in axil of small bracts |
| Calyx (sepals): | absent or reduced to cup-shaped disc |
| Corolla (petals): | absent |
| Androecium: | from 2 to ~30 stamens, free or united |
| Gynoecium: | bicarpellate, superior ovary (=hypogynous), style often divided, ovules have parietal or basal placentation |
| Fruit: | small capsules |
| Other features: | flowers produced prior to leaf emergence Populus has pendant catkins (wind-pollinated); Salix has erect catkins with nectar at base of flowers (insect-pollinated, as well as wind-pollinated) numerous, small seeds with tufts of hair for wind dispersal |
| Vegetative Features | |
|---|---|
| fast growing, capable of vegetative (clonal) growth and resprouting from root stalks | |
| Leaves: | usu. alternate, simple with serrate margins, stipulate, leaves deciduous |
| Life-history: | perennial |
| Habit: | shrubs and trees |
| Distribution & Ecology: | temperate and sub-Arctic regions of N. Hemisphere common in wet and mountainous areas |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Salix willows hybrids are very common Populus trichocarpa black cottonwood Populus tremuloides aspen |
| Economic Importance | |
|---|---|
| Crops: | some medicinal value (willow bark - salicylic acid) Populus grown for wood pulp, particleboard, boxes, matches Salix basketry |
| Ornamentals: | many ornamental trees (weeping willow, etc.) |
| Weedy and pest species: | |
| Examples | Salicaceae Salix |
|---|---|
| Salicaceae Salix |
|
| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
Links to Other Web Sites
){kind=link}
){kind=link}