



448 dr. r. buchanan white's 



As for the shape of the stigmas, 1 think that not much reliance 

 can be placed on that supposed characteristic. 



There remain therefore as primary characters, the form of the 

 leaves, of the catkins, and of the capsules ; and following Anders- 

 son's views three chief forms may be distinguished by those who 

 wish to retain varietal names. These are : 



1. gracilis (or genuina), with slender catkins, small subovate 

 capsules, and usually narrow leaves. 



2. Lambertiana, with larger catkins, ovate-conic capsules, 

 and larger leaves broad throughout (Lambertiana), or con- 

 spicuously broader above the middle (JVoolgariana). 



3. ramulosa (S. Helix, And., but since S. Helix, L., is dubious, 

 the use of that name is not expedient), with rather stout capsules, 

 and narrow, more elongate, and more acuminate leaves. 



After examining an extensive series, the conclusion I come to 

 is that while extreme forms admit of having one or other of these 

 11 varietal " names applied to them, the various modifications pass 

 insensibly (as Boswell-Syme remarks) into each other, and that 

 there are many specimens of which it is impossible to say with cer- 

 tainty to which variety they belong. I doubt therefore the expe- 

 diency of retaining any varietal names. 



Regarding "Wimmer's forms (other than those mentioned 

 above), there are amongst British specimens plants that might be 

 referred to eriantha (catkins more hairy) though not in an 

 extreme state, to styligera (ovary with a short style), and to 

 sertcea (young leaves more or less woolly). 



X Salix bxjbra, Suds. (S. purpurea X 8. viminalis.) 



Since there has never been perfect unanimity amongst salico- 

 logists regarding Linne's Salix Helix, I have used for the hybrid 

 between S. purpurea and S. viminalis Hudson's commonly accepted 

 name of S. rubra. At the same time it is by no means clear that 

 S. Helix should not be the name to be adopted. 



Fries and Koch, and at a later period Andersson, thought 

 that S. Helix was only a form of S. purpurea. "YVimmer, on the 

 other hand, believing that Linne could not have described under 

 two names such a well-marked species (and one which he had 

 seen in a living state) as S. purpurea, makes S. Helix a synonym 

 of his S. viminalis-purpurea. Smith and his followers considered 







Hel 



Babingt 



agree in thinking it to be a variety of rubra. 







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