362 



DE. F. BUCHANAN WHITE S 



some 



Two 





Group 3. Fbagileb. 



So much confusion exists in the synonymy of Salixfragilis and 

 its nearest ally, that before entering into a discussion of their 

 forms, it will be first of all necessary to attempt to define clearly 



of the essential characters of the three British plants of 

 this group, and then to see what names they should bear, 

 of these are usually admitted to be true species, and these I shall 

 term in the mean time A and B. The third is an undoubted 

 hybrid between them, and may be designated A xB. 



A has the capsule elongate-attenuate from an ovate base, gra- 

 dually produced into the style, and hence acute, distinctly pedi- 

 cellate, with the pedicel 2-3 times as long as the nectary. Leaves 

 more or less obliquely acuminate, and, though often at the very 

 first somewhat silky, eventually quite glabrous, and shining 

 above. 



B has a smaller capsule, ovate-conic in shape, more or less 

 obtuse at the apex, and not tapering into the very short style, 

 scarcely pedicellate, with the pedicels at the very utmost not 

 exceeding the nectary. Leaves usually narrower and smaller, 

 straightly acuminate, more or less silky, rarely eventually sub- 

 glabrous, and slightly shining above. 



A X B, in its most intermediate condition, has a capsule larger 

 than B, but smaller than A, conical in shape, more or less obtuse, 

 very shortly styled, and pedicellate, with the pedicel about as 

 long as the nectary. Leaves more or less straightly acuminate, 

 at first somewhat silky, but eventually quite glabrous and shining 

 above, more distinctly serrated than B, but less coarsely than A. 

 But while this is what may be termed the typical state, innu- 

 merable forms, ranging from A to B and showing various com- 

 binations of their characteristics, occur. Some of these are with 

 difficulty distinguished from A or from B, as the case may be. 



Regarding the name that B should bear, there is no doubt, 

 since all authors are agreed in considering it to be S. alba, L. ; 

 but with respect to A and AxB there is much difficulty* 

 Delaying for a moment a consideration of Linne's description, 

 an examination of other descriptions, figures, and authentic 

 specimens will show that the views of ealicologists regarding 

 the names to be assigned to these two species have been widely 

 different. The opinions of the more important writers are as 

 follows. (The words of the author indicating which form he 

 had in view are given within brackets and inverted commas.) 





















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