360 ' DR. P. BTXCHAtfAl* WHITE'S 



the catkin of Salix pentandra as glabrous ; whereas other authors 

 more correctly allude to it as hairy. It is, of course, possible 

 that Andersson has met with specimens such as he describes. 



* 



X Salix cuspid ata, Schultz. (S. pentandra X S.fragMs.) 

 In Britain this hybrid has been either overlooked or is very 

 rare, being confined to Shropshire. 



cusvidata, says Wimmer 



distinguished 



many Continental examples, in which, from the leaves alone, it 

 would be impossible to say to what plant they should be referred. 

 The most important distinction between 8. cuspidata and 

 8. pentandra lies in the $ catkins. In the former these are 

 more slender and more tapering, and bear narrower and more 

 cylindrical capsules with longer pedicels. A majority of authors 

 describe the pedicels as three or four times the length of the nectary 

 (as compared with 8. pentandra, m which it is at most nearly twice 

 the length of the nectary) ; but "Wimmer says of the pedicel of 

 cuspidata " brevissimis," and of pentandra "brevis;" and his 

 specimens show a shorter pedicel in the former than in the latter. 

 I am therefore inclined to think that S. cuspidata, just like other 

 hybrids, shows an instability even in what are generally supposed 

 to be important and constant characters, and that too much de- 

 pendence must not be placed on any one point. 



Apart from the female flowers, distinctions (all variable) may 

 be found in the leaves (more acuminate, thinner, paler-veined, 

 and sometimes glaucous below, in cuspidata) ; in the male flowers 

 (f ewer-stamened and laxer) ; in the scales (more hairy) ; in the 

 size of the tree (bigger) ; and in the time of flowering (earlier 

 than pentandra and later than fragilis). The form of the stipules 

 is sometimes said to afford an important character ; but it is very 

 doubtful if this is the case. 



Through the kindness of Mr. W. Phillips, F.L.S., I have been 

 able to examine living specimens of the Shropshire plant. Like 

 the British S. pentandra, they have broader leaves than many of 

 the Continental examples. 



cu 



doubtfully native in its English localities, S. pentandra is admitted 

 to be native as far south as Worcestershire ; and as both it and 



* 



ground 





Mr 





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