3-79 Salicaceae, willow family

Marian C. Munro; Ruth E. Newell; Nicholas M. Hill

Authors

Marian C. Munro Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, NS
Ruth E. Newell E. C. Smith Herbarium, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Nicholas M. Hill Fernhill Institute, Kentville, Nova Scotia; Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Keywords:

Magnoliophyte, willow family, dicots, Ppopulus, poplar, popple, aspen, balm of Gilead, Salix, willow, pussy-willow, osier

Abstract

Both willows and poplars make up this family. Both genera are found in Nova Scotia. Most noticeable character is the early timing of flowering in spring often before the leaves are expanded. Species are dioecious or at least flowers are unisexual. Both staminate and pistillate flowers are reduced in size and borne in catkins.
The pistillate flower is merely a pistil subtended by a simple or lobed bract. Staminate flowers have 1–2 stamens. Fruits are capsules, with many seeds, each bearing a tuft of villous hairs.
Leaves are alternate, simple and sometimes serrate. Stipules are present or absent. Worldwide there have been about 300 species described. Roger Lloyd, Ross Hall, Martin Thomas, Sean Blaney and Jamie Ellison provided image use for this chapter.

Author Biographies

Marian C. Munro, Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, NS

Curator of Botany (NSPM)

Ruth E. Newell, E. C. Smith Herbarium, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Curator of the E. C. Smith Herbarium (ACAD)

Nicholas M. Hill, Fernhill Institute, Kentville, Nova Scotia; Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Director; Adjunct Professor