







418 



DB. F. BUCHANAN WHITE S 



y 



velutina. 



(Salix velutina, Schrad., 8. holosericea, Willd., 8. cinerea-viminalis, 



Wimm. p.p., S. Micheliana, Forbes, Sal. Wob.) 

 Var. velutina, which is often closely connected with sericans, 

 and especially with the form subobscura (from some states of 

 which it can scarcely be separated), is distinguished by its usually 

 tomentose twigs, serrulate leaves, shorter style and stigmas, and 

 more longly pedicelled capsule. Whilst in stipularis the capsule 

 is scarcely stalked, and in sericans the stalk is about as long as 

 the nectary, or at most twice as long, in velutina it is twice or 

 three times the length. Just as in the other varieties, however, 

 all the characters are liable to modification ; so that it becomes 

 impossible to say where certain specimens should be placed. 



Though the leaves are normally more or less serrate, they are 

 not invariably so. Forms of this group which have serrate leaves 

 Beem to have derived their origin from the hybridization ot 

 8. cinerea or 8. aurita, rather than 8. Caprea, with S. viminahs. 

 This appears to be in a measure indicated by the position of the 

 marginal glands. In S. viminalis the position of these i* some- 

 what remote from the entire margin. In 8. Caprea they are 

 also rather remote from the margin, which, however, is by d° 

 means always entire. In 8. cinerea and 8. aurita the glands are 

 much nearer, if not on the margin, and are often at the apex ot 

 teeth. The position, therefore, of the glands and nature of the 

 margin seems to afford a frequent (though not a constant) guide 

 to the possible origin and position of some of the varieties 

 of S. Smithiana, such as velutina and f err ug in ea. 



Var. velutina, which, in a greater degree than all the other 

 varieties, appears to have arisen from the crossing of 8. viminahs 

 with S. cinerea, is said to be everywhere rare. Specimens which 

 seem to be referable to it I have seen from Kelvington, N. York- 

 shire (J. G. Baker), named 8. cinerea-viminalis, Wimm., and 

 well marked. Less well-marked are examples from Llangarren, 

 Herefordshire (A. Ley); and Pendeford Mill, Staffordshire, named 

 S. rugosa (Dr. Fraser). Dr. Fraser has also found, plants near 

 "Wolverhampton, which both Leefe and Boswell-Syine have 

 referred to 8. holosericea, Willd., Koch (=S. velutina, Schrad. 

 sec. And.). These, which are c? , are certainly rightly placed under 

 or near velutina, but they are not very like Wimmer's examples of 

 S. holosericea, "Willd. ; and the flowering-twigs and buds are more 

 glabrous than Koch's comparison oE them with those of S. cinerea 



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