VIII. 2. THE SAGE WILLOW. 255 



to several of the species ; and in regard to many of the native 

 sorts, I have not had opportunities of making sufficiently accurate 

 and continued observations to authorize me to speak with con- 

 fidence. I have received important assistance from Dr. J. Bar- 

 ratt, of Middle town, Conn., who has long studied this genus 

 with great care ; and I shall follow his arrangement of the spe- 

 cies, and rely on his authority in describing some as distinct, 

 which I should be disposed, from my own imperfect observa- 

 tions, to consider as only varieties. I am not sufficiently well 

 acquainted with them to present a strictly popular view, and 

 am therefore obliged to offer that which follows. 



Group First. The Sallows. Cinerece. Borrer. 



These are upland, grayish shrubs, more or less downy, espe- 

 cially at an early period of their year's growth, and with leaves 

 very light colored beneath. 



" Their aments are oval or oval-cylindrical, expanding before 

 the leaves ; stamens two, beginning to expand, at the apex of the 

 anient ; scales red, afterwards turning black. Younger female 

 aments recurved. Ovaries stalked. Younger stigmas mostly 

 red or pale yellow, finally turning green. Leaves obovate, 

 lanceolate, mostly very entire, hoary, with white or ashy hairs, 

 rugose ; with the margins often revolute." — Barratt, Salices 

 Americanos. 



Sp. 1. The Sage Willow. Salix tristis. Aiton. 



Leaves long, linear-lanceolate, or oblanceolate, acutely wedge-shaped at base, 

 acute, or sometimes rather obtuse, at the end, entire or distantly waved-toothed, 

 often revolute at the edge, the upper surface somewhat downy at first, after- 

 wards smoothish ; the under surface glaucous or whitish, sometimes downy, 

 sometimes rugose with prominent smooth veins ; stipules minute, narrow, 

 lanceolate, caducous ; aments very small, coming out before the leaves ; 

 scales oblong-roundish, hairy at the margin, turning black ; ovaries stalked, 

 covered with a grayish, silky down ; style short. 



The two varieties which have usually been considered as the 

 species, tristis, and Muhlenbcrgiana, run into each'other, and are 

 properly considered by Dr. Barratt as forms of a single species. 

 They are found on dry, sandy plains, the smaller variety con- 



