454 SALICACEAE 



S. viridis is made up of a series of intermediate forms of S. alba and 

 S. fraf/ilis, which almost certainly are natural hybrids. In many cases the 

 plants approach one parent in one particvilar, and the other parent in 

 another. Buchanan AVhite states that the branches, or at least the main.ones, 

 of S. alba make with the stem an angle of 35°, in S. fragilis it is 90°, in 

 normal intermediate S. viridis it is about 60°. 



The capsules oi S. fragilis measure about 7 mm. in length, in S. alba they 

 are 3 mm., and in S. viridis about 5 mm. Compared with S. fragilis typical, 

 the leaves of S. viridis are of a darker green, more finely serrated on the 

 margin, and less oblique towards the apex ; the capsules are smaller, more 

 or less obtuse at the apex, and with a shorter pedicel, not more than twice 

 the length of the nectary. In S. fragilis the capsule is lanceolate-subulate 

 or ovate-lanceolate, attenuate into the style, and the pedicel is two to three 

 times as long as the nectary. From S. alba the larger and more glabrous 

 leaves, and larger and more distinctly pedicelled and distinctly styled 

 capsules, offer distinguishing characters. 



One of the forms which I sent to my lamented friend, Dr. F. B.White, 

 was a female plant from Oxfordshire, and I have tlie same from Berk- 

 shire, near Sandford. It liad long slender catkins and capsules 

 resembling those of S. alba, but shortly pedicelled. In this S. alba is 

 the predominating partner. 



For the sake of convenience I have kept a distinct place for S. viridis, 

 but it is quite possible that the suggested origin is correct. 



S. viridis has been correctly recorded for Surrey, Oxfordshire, and 

 I have seen it in Bucks, near Cottisford. 



S. alba, Linn. Sp. PL 1021 (1753). White Willow. 



S. vulgaris alba arborescens, C. B. Pin. 473. S. fragilis, Linn. Herb. 



Top. Bot. 375. Syme, E. B. viii. 210, t. 1309. Nyman, 664. Fl. Oxf. 271. 

 Native. Paludal. Sides of rivers and pools, damp hedges, &c. 



Common. A tree attaining from 50-60 feet. April-May. 

 First record. S. vitellina, Yellow Willow, Dr. Noehden. The shoots 

 used by Crate and Basket makers. Wood white and very tough, 

 Mavor^s Agr. Berks, 1809. 



S. alba is a common willow in all the districts and is often pollarded. 

 Some handsome ti'ees of it are to be seen by the Thames. 



Mr. G. D. Leslie painted his picture of ' Willow, willow ' from" tlie 

 banks of the Loddon. 



Var. COERULEA (Sm. E. B. t. 243 r, as a species). Huntingdon Willow. 



A large number of our plants of S. alba belong to this form, which 

 has more glabrous leaves. 



Var. VITELLINA (Linn. Sp. PI. 1016, as a species). Yellow Willoiv. 

 Syme, E. B. t. 13 11. 



Chiefly distinguished by the bright golden yellow twigs. It is 

 frequently cultivated in osier-beds, but besides the difference in the 

 colour of the bark it has much more slender catkins, with more 

 scattered flowers, and very long narrow scales. The leaves are smaller 

 and are less pubescent and of a yellower green tint. 



