THE TREE WILLOWS OF ALASKA 28l 



height. Like Sa//x sitchcnsis^ it becomes ahnost prostrate on the 

 naked gravels at the Muir Ghicier, while only a few miles away, on 

 older glacial deposits which have been reclothed with an abundant 

 vegetation of shrubs, it develops into a handsome small tree, a differ- 

 ence of habit illustrating the marked effect of different local condi- 

 tions. This willow differs notably from all the other Pacific Coast 

 species in its foliage, so much so, indeed, that Hooker and Arnott, 

 the conservative authors of the ' Botany of Captain Beechey's Voyage 

 in the Blossom,' described the plant from specimens devoid of flowers 

 or fruit. The under surface of the leaves is covered with a dense 

 white wool or felt made up of curled and tangled hairs, presenting 

 an appearance quite different from the velvety, or satiny, or cobwebby 

 pubescence of other species. The leaves are narrowly to broadly el- 

 liptical-lanceolate, acute at the apex and base, smooth or nearly so on 

 the upper surface, of an apparently thick texture, due largely to the 

 dense woolly covering of the lower surface, often corrugate-reticu- 

 late, the margins of the very young leaves often minutely glandular- 

 denticulate, at maturity usually entire and sometimes revolute, the 

 stipules usually present, narrowly linear- lanceolate to filiform, and 

 entire. The fruiting catkins are very long and thick, some of those 

 collected reaching a length of 14 cm. and a diameter of i.S cm. 



The detailed distribution of the felt-leaf willow as observed on the 

 Harriman Expedition is as follows : 



Glacier Bay. — Common on all the shores and lower mountain slopes 

 about the bay, its gi'ay foliage conspicuous among the alders. Speci- 

 mens were collected in Muir Inlet (622, 639), at the Hooniah Village 

 (663), and at Point Gustavus (696, 698, 699, 702). 



Yakutat Bay. — Abundant on the west side and at the north end of 

 the bay and its arms. Collected along the west side of the bay (11 20, 

 1 149), at Hidden Galcier, Russell Fiord (996), and at Hubbard Gla- 

 cier, Disenchantment Bay (1058). 



Prince William Sound. — At Port Wells (1270). 



Cook Inlet. — Sparingly on the delta of a glacier at Halibut Cove, 

 Kachemak Bay (2419). 



Kadiak. — Abundant in the same situation as Salix sitckcnsis at 

 Eagle Bay (1441). 



Shumagifi Islands. — A few trees observed at Sand Point (1798) 

 and found sparingly by Mr. De Alton Saunders at various points on 

 Unga and Popof. 



Alaska Peninsula. — In Kukak Bay (1622), and abundant in Ste- 

 povak Bay, along valley-bottoms, according to Dr. Charles Palache, 

 who collected a specimen there. 



