10 Rhodora [JANUARY 
The willow under consideration, however, is fully as constant in its 
characters as Salix cordata Muhl., while it is clearly separated from its 
near relatives, S. petiolaris Sm. and S. sericea Marsh. ‘lhe leaves, 
which resemble those of S. cordata much more than those of S. petio- 
laris or S. sericea and remain green or blacken but slightly in drying, 
have beneath and usually on the midvein above а permanent pubes- 
cence, which is not so dense or silky as that of S. sericea. ‘The small 
glandular-toothed stipules are a little less deciduous than those of 5S. 
‘sericea and 5. petiolaris, some of them usually being present at the end 
of the season. ‘The leaves and branches make a greater angle with 
the twigs and main trunks respectively than do those of the two latter 
species and give the shrub a somewhat zigzag appearance in the field. 
The aments and capsules are best described by saying that they are 
quite intermediate between those of S. petiolaris and S. sericea. In 
the former species the aments (at least when young) are leafy-bracted 
at base and in maturity appear loose from the lengthening of the 
pedicels; the oblong-spatulate scales are brown to yellowish; and the 
long-beaked capsules (6.5-8 mm. long) are on pedicels which usually 
much exceed the scales. In S. sericea the dense aments are slightly 
if at all bracted at base, the short oblong scales are blackish, and the 
round-tipped capsule (2.5-4.5 mm. long) is on a pedicel which about 
equals or only slightly exceeds the scale. In the plant under special 
consideration the ament is leafy-bracted at base as in S. petiolaris and 
it is nearly as loosely flowered as in that species, the scales are blackish 
and oblong as in S. sericea, and the lance-conic blunt capsule (5-7 mm. 
long) is elevated on a pedicel which is once and a half or twice as long 
as the scale. 
From Salix cordata, which it somewhat resembles in foliage, the 
problematic willow is quickly distinguished by the pubescent capsule, 
the smaller usually deciduous stipules, and the strongly whitened 
lower surface of the leaves, as well as by numerous other characters. 
А hybrid of this willow and S. cordata has been found and is now 
growing near the ice-house on Cow Island, West Roxbury. 
A search in the Gray Herbarium and the Herbarium of the New 
England Botanical Club has revealed some doubtful foliage-speci- 
mens; but only one sheet of specimens which is positively identified 
with the writer's material has been found. ‘This, however, is a very 
important specimen, for it is the type of Andersson’s Salix petiolaris, 
