CATKlN-BEARlNG TElBE 151 



planted for basket-work, as well as for making slight fences ; and as the 

 bark is bitter, these fences are not destroyed by hares and rabbits. It is a 

 pretty plant during winter, its graceful purple boughs being ornamental even 

 without leaves, and the young shoots in spring being clothed with a few 

 delicate green leaves and numerous catkins of a purplish-brown tinge. 



The classification of the Willows is attended with considerable difficulty, 

 botanists vaiying much in opinion as to the number of species. Numerous 

 plants that are merely varieties have been described as distinct species. 

 Mr. Borrer has given great attention to the Willows, and Hooker and Arnott, 

 the authors of the "British Flora," followed his arrangement with but few 

 deviations. Our list is given from theirs ; but for the very minute scientific 

 characters, as well as for the exact descriptions of many varieties once con- 

 sidered species, the reader is referred to Borrer, De Candolle's Prodromus, and 

 Boswell's English Botany. 



2. Rose Willow {S. Mlix). — Capsule egg-shaped ; style nearly as long 

 as the cleft stigmas ; filaments united throughout their length ; leaves often 

 opposite, lanceolate, broadest upwards, and tapering to a point, finely 

 serrated, without stipules. This species differs from the last so little, that 

 some botanists regard it but as a variety of the Purple Willow. It is chai-ac- 

 terized chiefly by its much longer style and cleft stigmas. It is a tree of 

 humble growth, with erect branches, covered with yellow or purplish-grey 

 glossy bark. Its catkins are longer than those of the last species, and the 

 fertile ones are more than twice as thick. It is taller than that shrub, and 

 has altogether a lighter hue. 



The plant owes its name of Kose Willow to certain rose-like expansions 

 at the end of the branches, which, though found occasionally on other 

 Willows, are more frequent on this. These tufts are caused by the puncture 

 of a Ci/iiijjs, which deposits its eggs in the tops of the twigs, in consequence 

 of Avhich they shoot out into leaves differing from the ordinary form of the 

 foliage, and not unlike a rose in their growth. They are conspicuous on the 

 boughs even in wintei-, remaining long after the wind has swept away all 

 other foliage, and some of the tufts being two or three inches across. The 

 leaves and twigs of this sj)ecies have but little bitterness ; and Sir J. E. 

 Smith says that the roots give more strength and solidity to the banks of rivers 

 and ditches than do those of the Purple WilloAV ; while Dr. George Johnston 

 was of opinion that it endured storms better than any other species. Gerarde 

 says of the Eose Willow, that it " makes a gallant showe, and yields a most 

 coole aire in the heate of summer, being set up in a house for the decking of 

 the same." Its twigs are used by the basket-maker for coarse work. Its 

 name of helix is thought to be deiived from the peculiar twist of its leaves, 

 reminding one of the snail's shell. 



3. Fine Basket Osier {S. forhydna). — Leaves alternate, lanceolate, 

 oblong, serrated, smooth ; style nearly as long as the divided stigmas ; 

 filaments united throughout length ; stipules linear -lanceolate. This plant, 

 which is called Forby's AVillow, after the Rev. Joseph Forby, grows wild in 

 Cambridgeshire, and is not unfrequent in meadows and osier-grounds about 

 Fincham, in Norfolk- It is nearly allied to S. helix, but differs from it in its 

 foliage- The stem is erect and bushy, with upright slender twigs, very 



