Tree Description:
A small tree to 25 feet tall and a trunk to 12" in diameter, with a curving, irregular branching habit and an open, airy crown of foliage.
Range/Site Description:
Occurs in West Texas, on dry, gravelly, porous soils and dry stream channels. Also planted as a landscape specimen, but does poorly if overwatered.
Leaf:
Simple, alternate (or sometimes opposite), linear, 4" to 12" long and just 0.5" wide, light green, pointed at the tip, with a smooth leaf margin.
Flower:
Showy, tubular flowers 1" to 1.5" long, usually lavender or white, blooming at the end of the twigs in summer or after a rainstorm, opening successively toward the end of the flower stalk.
Fruit:
A long "pod" or capsule, 7" to 12" long, woody, very slender, and containing many small seeds. Fruit pods are similar to those of catalpa.
Bark:
Smooth, brown on branches and young trunks, turning darker with age and developing scales and deeper fissures on old trunks.
Wood:
Soft, weak, and close-grained; brown, streaked with yellow. The wood is used for fenceposts, fuel, and baskets; the flowers produce an excellent honey.
Similar Species:
Black willow (Salix nigra) has shorter leaves with finely-toothed margins.
Interesting Facts:
Dried flowers are sold in local Mexican markets as remedy for coughs and other respiratory ailments.
