Family: Salicaceae, Willow view all from this family

Description Tree with 1 or sometimes several straight trunks, upright branches, and spreading crown.
Height: 60' (18 m).
Diameter: 2' (0.6 m).
Leaves: 2-4 1/2" (5-11 cm) long, 1/2-1 1/4" (1.2-3 cm) wide. Lance-shaped, often slightly curved to one side, tapering to long, narrow point; finely saw-toothed, with long, slender leafstalks, becoming hairless. Shiny green above, whitish beneath.
Bark: dark brown, rough, furrowed into flat, scaly ridges.
Twigs: shiny orange or brown, hairless.
Flowers: catkins 1 1/4-3" (3-7.5 cm) long; with yellow, hairy scales; on short, leafy twigs; in spring with leaves.
Fruit: 1/4" (6 mm) long; long-stalked, reddish-yellow, hairless capsules; maturing in late spring or early summer.

Habitat Wet soils of valleys, often bordering stream banks with cottonwoods.

Range Se. British Columbia east to extreme s. Quebec and New York, south to nw. Pennsylvania and west to w. Texas; also n. Mexico; at 500-7000' (152-2134 m).

Discussion This is the common willow across the northern plains, where it is important in protecting riverbanks from erosion. Both common and scientific names refer to the leaf shape, which suggests that of Peach.