PURPLE BASKET WILLOW 283 



produces shoots 6 feet long the first season ; in height growth it approaches the 

 Ural willow. 



l^alid' purpurea sericea Wimraer. Silken-haired willow. In Germany the 

 silken-haired variety is considered one of the most valuable and profitable 

 basket willows. Its leaves while young are covered with a dense silky down 

 which disappears at maturity. 



Among other varieties* of the purple willow the following may be 

 mentioned : 



Salix wisconsinensis Cat. 

 " malensis 



" purpurea atropurpurea 

 " " angustifolia 



" " macrophylla 



" " lutcscens 



" " utilissima 



" " mirabilis 



" " graminea 



" " procumhens 



Hyirids of the Purple Willow 



Halix viminalis x purpurea Wimmer. Common hybrid. This is the most 

 important hybrid resulting from the cross fertilization of the white willow 

 (^Halix viminalis L.) and the purple willow. It belongs indisputably to the 

 basket willows of the highest rank. The common hybrid possesses more char- 

 acters of the viminales group of willows than of the purpurea group. The rods 

 are very long and more nearly uniform in length, though thinner than the 

 white willow, but just as slendei", smooth and flexible as the purple willow. 

 Furthermore the bark is thin and peels easily. The wood is very tough and 

 remains white for a long time after peeling. The rods split easily and can be 

 planed without difficulty. The holt retains the vitality of the purple willow 

 and is extensively planted in Europe. 



Salix rubra Hudson. Rose willow. Another hybrid of the purple and 

 white willows is recognized by its yellow anthers which are long and narrow 

 and somewhat tapering at both ends; also by the leaves which are remotely 

 serrated. If the leaves are green below and either smooth or with a few 

 scattered hairs the hybrid is Salix rubra Hudson (Salix helix L.) including 

 Salix angustissima Wimmer. A form with the under surface of the leaves 

 more strongly pubescent or silken pubescent is segregated as Salix elaeagni- 

 folia Tausch. 



Salix forbyana Smith. Forby'e hybrid. An important cross between the 

 white and purple willows that has more characters of the purple willow is 

 Forby's hybrid. This hybrid difl^^ers from the purple willow in having more or 

 less adhering filaments in the male flowere and the under surface of the leaves 

 slightly pubescent. It differs from the white willow by its slender pistil, dis- 

 tinct leaf scars and the development of minute stipules. That it approaches 

 the ijurple willow more closely is shown by its red anthers when young, and 

 by the leaves which are broadest above the middle and the serratures on the 

 upper half. They are blue-green and slightly pubescent below when young. 

 This willow yields very strong and tough rods and is planted extensively in 

 England for the production of posts, poles, stakes, and handles for implements. 



*These varieties are mentioned in a number of German publications dealing with 

 basket willow culture, but no reference could be found regarding their authors. It is 

 likely that the majority of these have never been described and with suitable material 

 a tew could perhaps be shown to be identical with some of those cited above. 



