THE SALIX LISTS IN THE 'LONDON CATALOGUE.' 465 



though degraded by Wimmer and Andersson, and retained as a 

 mere synonym of S. triandm L., and treated in the same way by 

 Dr. White, who regarded it as the equivalent of Andersson's fi. 

 concolor 1. latifolia (though it does not agree with Andersson's 

 description), demands fairer consideration. The features which 

 Borrer, who drew Smith's attention to the form, observed are the 

 smaller growth of the shrub (12-15 ft. high), the shorter leaves 

 (1^-2^ in.), which are ovate to ovate-lanceolate from a rounded 

 base, "their sides being nowhere parallel," paler beneath, but 

 hardly glaucous. To this description has been added, "young 

 twigs not furrowed"; "stipules larger and more rounded " (Syme, 

 E. B. viii. 215), both good points. Having had the opportunity of 

 watching S. Hoffmmniutna Sm. growing side by side with S. triandm 

 type, I am able to confirm all these features, and may say that, 

 whereas S. triandya is a rather lax tree, ascending on the banks of 

 the E. Stour, Dorset, to 25-30 ft., with dark green foliage, S. Hoff- 

 manniana Sm. on the same river-bank is a small shrubby tree 

 forming a dense head, 10-12 ft. high, with more numerous slenderer 

 twigs, often flattened above the leaf-axils but not grooved, and with 

 foliage of a yellower green colour and a thinner texture. The 

 question, to my mind, is not whether it is a variety of S. triaiidra, but 

 whether with all these points of diiference it does not deserve the 

 specific rank Smith accorded it. Contrast, for instance, the very slight 

 distinctions between S. J'ra</ilis L. and var. hritannica F. B. White. 

 I have failed to find in the field the numerous intermediates that 

 Syme refers to ; though it is sometimes difficult to decide on 

 incomplete herbarium specimens. But if, as Dr. E. de Crespigny 

 stated, /S'. liojf'manniana is the only $ triandra form by the Thames, 

 it is likely that crosses would occur between this and *S'. triandra J , 

 and intermediates might in this way be produced. It is curious 

 that the subspecies (as I am disposed to rank 5. Hoffittanniana Sm.) 

 should almost invariably be male. It has doubtless been propagated 

 by cuttings, being frequently of use in strengthening quickset 

 hedges and preserving river-banks. 



1396 pentandra x alba [hexandra Ehrh.). In my list the figure 

 3 placed after this hybrid was intended to include the two counties, 

 Edinburgh and Forfar, mentioned in the Revision, and a sample 

 from Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, which Mr. J. Fingland informed me 

 Dr. White had named S. hexandra much on the alba side ; and he 

 kindly supplied me with a plant. This plant has developed into a 

 handsome form of S. alba, with no apparent trace of S. pentandra 

 in it. The comital numbers should therefore be 2 ? rather than 3. 



1396 pentandra x frai/ilis (cuspidata Schultz). This has been 

 discovered at Wybunbury Bog (No. 51, Set of British Willows), 

 Cheshire, by Capt. A. WoUey Dod ; also by the Kev. A. Ley at 

 Pontrilas, in Herefordshire ; the comital number is therefore 3 

 instead of 1, as in my list. 



1397 fragilis Linn. The exact distribution of the type and 

 variety still wants working out. Dr. White knew of three counties 

 only for the type at the date of the Revision ; to these may be 

 added Derbyshire (see No. 2, Set of British Willows). 



