What is "salix discolor"

Pussy \Pussy\, n. [Dim. of puss.]

1. A pet name for a cat; also, an endearing name for a girl.

2. A catkin of the pussy willow.

3. The game of tipcat; -- also called pussy cat.

   Pussy willow (Bot.), any kind of willow having large cylindrical catkins clothed with long glossy hairs, especially the American Salix discolor; -- called also glaucous willow, and swamp willow.

Salix discolor, the American pussy willow or glaucous willow, is a species of willow native to North America, one of two species commonly called pussy willow.

It is native to the northern forests and wetlands of Canada ( British Columbia east to Newfoundland), and is also found in the northern portions of the contiguous United States ( Idaho east to Maine, and south to Maryland).

It is a weak-wooded deciduous shrub or small tree growing to tall, with brown shoots. The leaves are oval, 3–14 cm long and 1-3.5 cm broad, green above and downy grey-white beneath.

The flowers are soft silky silvery catkins, borne in early spring before the new leaves appear, with the male and female catkins on different plants ( dioecious); the male catkins mature yellow at pollen release.

The fruit is a small capsule 7–12 mm long containing numerous minute seeds embedded in cottony down.