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BEYISION OF THE BRITISH WILLOWS. 375 



placed here, even as a synonym ; excelsior is, according to Wim- 

 mer, the same as his var. glabra, and palustris his var. vestita ; 

 but Andersson's determination of Host's species is different. 



These varieties, whatever names be adopted for them, are marked 

 by too indefinite and inconstant characters to be of much practical 



value. 



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albescens , if taken in the sense that they indicate a departure 

 from the central form in the direction of fragilis or of alba, are 

 to be preferred ; but, as mentioned above, the vegetative organs 

 may show affinity with one, and the reproductive organs with the 

 other, of the parents. If these names are used at all it should be 

 with reference to leaf-structure only. 



In Britain Salix viridis exhibits a considerable range of variety. 

 It may be of some interest and utility to briefly notice some of 

 the forms which I have seen. 



Prom Worcestershire, Mr. E. F. Towndrow kindly sent me 



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living specimens from seven trees. Two of these are so closely 

 related to S. alba that if they had not formed part of the series 

 received, I should have called them rather untypical S. alba. Two 

 others are also on the alba side of the type or excelsior, which 

 they connect with albescens — one being nearer the latter variety 

 than is the other. Two others exhibit relationship to the other 

 parent, one having leaves scarcely distinguishable from those of 



The re- 



maming tree seems nearest of all to typical S. viridis and has 

 leaves quite different from any of the others, and resembling those 



Wob 



The cat- 





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,n s ( cj ) h ave the filaments apparently shorter, in proportion to 

 the length of the scales, than in Swedish examples of S. viridis, 

 suggesting a derivation from the var. britannica of S. fragilis. 

 Ihe broad dark green leaves recall those of S. alba $ . 



Of the same leaf-form as the last is a $ plant collected in 



Oxfordshire by Mr. G. C. Druce. It has long and slender catkins, 



and capsules resembling those of 8. alba, but shortly pedicelled. 



ery different from these specimens are a series of examples 



collected by Mr. T. E. Archer Brigg* in South Devon and East 



ornwall. They are all <3 and, unfortunately, most of them have 



Q o adult leaves. Hence their affinity is not so easy to determine, 



out of eight trees seven seem to be related to S. alba rather 



aQ ° &• fragilis. Three of them are remarkable for having 



re 0r * ess partially triandrous, and evea tetrandrous flowers, a 

















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