64. Salicaceae

The Salicaceae family has brought us cottonwoods, aspens, poplars, willows and aspirin -- among other things. 

Seen above is the Fremont cottonwood, Populus fremontii,  standing in front of Zion Lodge at Zion National Park in Utah. These trees are found in riparian areas all over the west. The name comes from the abundant airborne "cotton" released by the tree as seed.

Above, from the same road trip, an aspen forest (Populus tremuloides or quaking aspen). Unfortunately due to the altitude and time of year, the famously trembing leaves were gone, but the silvery trunks were still nice to see.

Now that I think about it, all the trees in the Populus genus that I have encountered are beautiful. Lombardy poplars (Populus nigra) from the Mediterranean are often planted in rows as windbreaks. They have a stately presence that brings to mind Italian countryside -- along with leaves that shimmer like aspens. These trees are found throughout California.

On the east coast my first Salicaceae encounter was probably a weeping willow (Salix babylonica). Actually these trees originate from China, but they have been cultivated in Europe and America for centuries. One of the largest and most impressive trees on my Dad's property growing up was a weeping willow.

The Salix genus is famous for having provided the human race with aspirin. Contained within the bark is a substance called salicin, which our bodies convert to salicylic acid, a pain reliever. Chemists have long since been able to produce a synthetic version of this pain reliever, commonly known as aspirin. I for one like to focus on the willow tree connection, the very thought of which helps me soothe aches and pains.