ORIGIN OF SALIX GRAHAMI 239 



break it into two or three pieces. This may give an idea of 

 its habit of growth. 



So much is said of the cultivation of forms that I did 

 my best to try this ; but under glass in a box of sand, and 

 outside in the garden border, I could never establish the 

 plants or grow them from seed. The plants in their native 

 situations are under water from autumn until well on in spring. 



In my opinion, this plant has been brought to Loch Leven 

 by northern water- fowl that have frequented the Loch 

 during the winter season from time immemorial. 



At the East of Scotland Naturalists' Conference at Kirk- 

 caldy in July 1893, these views were stated, and specimens 

 of the forms above mentioned were exhibited. 



ORIGIN OF SALIX GRAHAMI. 

 By EDWARD F. LINTON, M.A. 



Salix GraJiavii (Borr. MSS.) Baker, was suspected by the 

 late Dr. Boswell (" E. B.," viii. p. 258) to be a hybrid between 

 vS. herbacca and vS. pJiylicifolia or nigricans ; and Dr. F. B. 

 White, in his " Revision of the British Willows," favours the 

 view that it owes its origin to a union between 6". Jierbacea 

 and S.phylicifolia. Never quite satisfied with the suggested 

 parentage, and less so now that I have succeeded in pro- 

 ducing the hybrid between these two species artificially, I 

 lately tested ^S. Grahami carefully on the hypothesis that 

 6". Myrsinites was the unknown parent, being struck by the 

 glossy appearance of the green under -side of the young 

 leaves. 



The leaves beneath are of too good a green and too 

 shining for a combination with 5. pJiylicifolia, and the 

 pubescence also too persistent. The scales of the catkin 

 bear no resemblance to those of ^". phylicifolia^ but have a 

 close resemblance to those of 6". Myrsinites, and the same 

 pinkish -red colouring which the latter have before they 

 blacken in the upper part. The stout red style, rather rigid 

 and persistent, with large bifid stigmas, is just that of 



