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The HISTORY of THE DIAMOND WILLOW

Diamond willow is not a species of willow, but rather it is apparently the result of attack by fungus from several species of willow Although this is the accepted explanation. Diamonds form as a result of the tree's response to this fungus. The diamonds are actually more like elongated ovals with pointed ends. In my observations, if one stem in a clump of willow is affected, then all of them will be. However, the neighboring clump may be completely without diamonds. 

Formation

A cluster of trees tends to grow this fungus, all resulting in the diamond look. The cluster tends to grow away from the fungus and new layers of growth occur further and further away from the site of the fungal attack. Thus the affected area gets larger and deeper. If the tree has been affected in several places close together, then the diamonds "run into" each other and may cause holes. This is a rare result, however I have discovered one to date with numerous holes.

The shape of the diamonds seems to vary from one clump of willow to the next although there may be some general tendencies. Some stems will form long narrow diamonds; others will be short and wide. Usually all the diamonds on the stems in one clump will have similar growth patterns. If the new layers of sapwood do not "move back" very much each year, then the diamonds will be deep bowl or cleft shaped. These stems will be able to survive longer than those whose diamonds are flat and open.

The bark over the diamond usually becomes rougher and somewhat darker. It also becomes tougher and adheres much more to the underlying wood. The sapwood is white to cream in color--again depending on the location. The heartwood is reddish-brown. This color tends to darken with exposure to light over a number of years.