Salix lasiolepis - Arroyo Willow

The Arroyo willow is the most common willow in central California and especially around here. They seem to be everywhere and then no where, meaning they just blend in. Growing rapidly to 20-30 feet tall and wide with a rounded or spreading canopy, usually in wet spots or shall I say, wetter spots. Rarely do you see one tree, they seem to establish in groups. Generally growing as a multi-stemmed tree.

Leaves are deciduous, simple, alternate, simple, oblanceolate to lanceolate, 3-4" long, about 3/4" wide, serrated margins, medium green upper surface, lower whitish color, at least early in the season. Stipules often present.

Flowers are dioecious, in clusters, or catkins, males are yellowish and mostly stamens,  coming out slightly before the foliage.

Females also in catkins, but held upright. These have already been pollinated but you can see the remnants of the style.

Fruit are narrow cone shaped capsules, as seen above, releasing a few seed that look like cotton, same family as the cottonwoods.

Stems are yellow brown, flower buds larger that vegetative buds. Bark can be rough or smooth.

Misidentification:
Other willows. Can't say this is my favorite group, so I don't know them all that well.

Location:
Aptos
Mar Vista Dr. On the right hand side of the street before you reach the trailer park. You might find some at the nursery at the end of the street.

Ceratonia siliqua - Carob Tree

The Carob Tree is a medium evergreen tree growing to 25-30' here, (much larger in warmer areas) with a broad dense canopy. Interesting female plants that produce a fruit that can be used as a cocoa substitute. Though most of the trees I see are males.

Leaves are alternate, even pinnately compound, with 6-10 broadly oval leaflets. Individual leaflets are 1 - 2.5" long, dark green to bluish green and glossy with coarsely undulated margins. Like many legume members the base of the petiole is swollen.

This is a cultivar called 'Cal Poly', not sure its origin of if anyone grows it but I like the blue foliage. 

Stems are reddish brown, lightly lenticeled and have a waxy covering. You can see the swollen base of the petiole, typical for legume family.

Flowers in the spring from spurs. Males and females separate plants but could be on one plant. This is an inflorescence of males. Males have an odd less than desirable smell.

Here is a close up of female flowers.

And here is an hermaphrodite. You can see the female at the free end and the male pollen sacs at the attached end (top of picture) 

Large spurs on the stems from where the flowers come out each year. Pretty odd looking.  

Fruit is a 5-12" long light to dark brown flattened pod containing 10+ flattened seeds. When ripe the seeds are free inside the fruit and rattle when shaken that are glossy. When dried and ground up they are a substitute for cocoa.

The trunks can be really cool with age. This one is downtown Palo Alto.

Misidentification:

Other pinnately compound leaved plants. Carrotwood maybe, with fewer leaflets.

Location:
Capitola
41st Ave divider near Safeway and Soquel Drive

Santa Cruz
104 Kalkar Dr.
Corner of Chestnut St. and Union St. Two males and one female.
Seabright Ave, near the Clinton cross street