NOTE: unless otherwise specifically stated, all of the images shown on this
page are of 1/4" square end grain cross sections shown at 12X with the top
of the image towards the bark and the bottom towards the pith so that
earlywood is towards the bottom of the growth rings and latewood is towards the top
to see all species with links to their anatomy page go here:
species links
Willow ranges from diffuse porous to semi diffuse porous
Willow species (genus Salix) range from diffuse porous to semi diffuse porous but are is mostly diffuse porous so I have put them all here on one page for convenience in comparisons
general characteristics of willow end grain
pores: sizes from tiny down to uncountable, sometimes in wavy patterns close to ulmiform
growth rings: occasionally vague but usually clear to the naked eye due to marginal parenchyma and darker tissue at the end of the latewood
peachleaf willow / Salix amygdaloides --- a good example of the wavy pore groups that sometimes occur in Salix species
peachleaf willow / Salix amygdaloides --- a 1/4" x 1/2" cross section shown here at 6X and clearly semi diffuse porous
weeping willow / Salix babylonica --- a 1/4" x 3/8" cross section shown here at 8X
weeping willow / Salix babylonica
weeping willow / Salix babylonica --- this is not a full growth ring
corkscrew willow / Salix babylonica
corkscrew willow / Salix babylonica --- a 1/4" x 5/12" cross section shown here at 7X
Australian willow / Salix babylonica x alba --- although the ring boundaries are very hard to see in this pic, they are there. One problem is that unlike my normal 1200 grit fine sanding, this one was only done to 400 grit
Australian willow / Salix babylonica x alba --- about 1/2 of a growth ring in a 1/3" x 1/4" cross sectoin shown here at 9X
Bebb willow / Salix bebbiana
Bebb willow / Salix bebbiana
Bebb willow / Salix bebbiana
goat willow / Salix caprea
goat willow / Salix caprea
Hooker willow / Salix hookerana
coastal plain willow / Salix caroliniana
pussy willow / Salix discolor
pussy willow / Salix discolor --- a 1/4" x 1/3" cross section shown here at 9X
pussy willow / Salix discolor --- a 1/4" x 1/3" cross section shown here at 9X
sandbar willow / Salix exigua
sandbar willow / Salix exigua
sandbar willow / Salix exigua --- a 1/4" x 5/12" cross section shown here at 7X
sandbar willow / Salix exigua --- a 1/4" x 5/12" cross section shown here at 7X
arryo willow / Salix lasiolepsis
Pacific willow / Salix lasiandra --- noticeably sparser pores than most