Pussy willows ?

[sprucebunny]

Last weekend there was what looked like a poplar tree fallen down in the trail. The branches had what looked like pussy willows but farthur apart.

Do species besides the real pussy willow have the same ( flower? ) form.

I collected a handful of stems to bring home and photograph but forgot them

[JJackson]

perhaps you mean "hairy" or pubescent buds?

[sprucebunny]

Yes. Do other species have hairy buds ? Why is only one plant called " pussy willow " if others have the same kind of bud ?

[SwampDonkey]

They are likely trembling aspen flower buds that are breaking. In a warm spring they will flower before May up here, probably happening down your way. There was a gentleman that collected some off an aspen he cut in November 2000 after a short cold snap and a long warm fall caused the buds to break. You can see a sample trembling aspen flower bud (un-broken) in the Overwintering Trees thread. Willow and aspen are closely related.

[SwampDonkey]

Direct link to family Salicaceae with emerging flowers

[sprucebunny]

Thanks, SwampDonkey

That looks like it.

I guess the willow ones are more well known because they are closer to the ground

[SwampDonkey]

As the Friendly Giant once said: 'Look up, look waaaay up'

http://www.tvparty.com/lostgiant.html   

[jack]

Are those the trees next to the Doggie woods?

[SwampDonkey]

Aspen and willow are beginning to flower now. I can see the emergent white flowers on both just breaking bud. Summer in 2 weeks. 

[arojay]

Friendly Giant ... Look back, waaaay back.  I coached atom and pee-wee hockey players this season and I mentioned Friendly once.  Wake up call for me.