AMENTIFER^. 201 



According to Dr. Mayne, the name of this genus is derived from salio, to spring 

 out, from its rapid growth ; other authors say it comes from the Celtic sal, near, and 

 lis, water, in reference to its general habitat. 



Section I. — VITJSALIX. Dumort. 



Catkin and its leafy stalk deciduous together, lateral, appearing with 

 the leaves. Catkin-scales of a uniform pale yellow colour. Nectary 

 of 2 pieces or " urceolate." Stamens or pistils betAveen the 2 pieces 

 of the nectary. Vernation convolute. 



Sub-Section I. — LYCUS. Dumort. 



Nectary " undivided" or 2-cleft, 1 portion being between the catkin- 

 scale and the germen or stamen, the other between these organs 

 and the rachis of the catkin.* Stamens 4 to 8 (or 12 ?). 



Large shrubs or small trees with glossy glabrous leaves. Stipules 

 caducous or rudimentary. 



division of the genus is that of M. Dumortier ; a detailed account of which will he 

 found in Seeman's "Journal of Botany," for June, 1863, p. 167, and in the "Bulletins 

 de la Societe Royale Botanique de Belgique," vol. i. p. 140. 



With regard to the so-called species and varieties, I have made but slight changes 

 from the nomenclature now commonly recognised in this country, avoiding the 

 minute subdivisions proposed by Sir J. E. Smith and Mr. Borrer on the one hand, 

 and the extreme reduction of the number of species adopted by Mr. Bentham on the 

 other, though possibly each of these may be right in the main, when the subject is 

 viewed from each of the two extreme significations of the term " species." I have 

 derived great assistance from Dr. Wimmer's " Salices Europteae," and the admirable 

 " Mouographia Salicum " of Mr. Andersson, but although I strongly incline to tlie 

 conclusion arrived at by these writers, namely, that a great number of the forms are 

 hybrids, I have not ventured to use the hybrid nomenclature until this question shall 

 have been satisfactorily settled. The great abundance of these so-called hybrid 

 forms, and the fact that some of them shade imperceptibly into one of the supposed 

 parents but not into the other, are the two chief points which may be urged against 

 the supposition of tbeir hybrid origin ; for there is no genus in which a priori one 

 might more reasonably expect to find crosses than in Salix, where we have dioecious 

 plants, several species often growing together, much visited by insects, and having 

 flowers. 



* The character given by M. Dumortier of the nectary is that it is urceolate and 

 undivided. I have found it of 2 pieces in the specimens S. pentandra and S. cuspi- 

 data, which I have examined. 



VOL. VIII. D D 



