202 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



SPECIES I— SALIX PENTANDRA. Linn. 



Plate MCCCIII. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XI. Tab. DCXII. Fig. 1268, and DCXIII. Fig. 



1269. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 1065. 

 Wimm. Sal. Europ. p. 22. Anders. Mon. Sal. p. 35. 

 S. pentandra and S. polyandra, De Bray. Reich. Ic. 1. c. p. 29. 



Leaves oval or elliptical or oblanceolate-oval, acuminate, finely and 

 closely glandular-serrate, sliming, glabrous on both sides ; petiole with 

 numerous glands at the apex. Stipules oblong, obtuse, rarely present, 

 except in the form of a minute gland. Catkins opening after the 

 leaf buds expand, on short leafy lateral branches, spreading or slightly 

 drooping, dense, obtuse. Catkin-scales oblong, obtuse, pubescent at 

 the base, glabrous at the apex. Stamens 4 to 8 or 12 ( ?), but 

 generally 5 ; filaments hairy at the base. Capsule conical-subulate, 

 green, glabrous, on a stalk twice as long as the nectary ; style short ; 

 stigmas thick, 2-lobed, spreading. Young branches and young leaves 

 glabrous. 



In wet places, and by the banks of rivers. Rather scarce, but gene- 

 rally distributed, though most common in the north of England and 

 Lowlands of Scotland. Whether it is indigenous in the south of 

 England and north of Scotland seems doubtful. Local and rather rare 

 in Ireland, but native in the north of the island. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Shrub or Tree. Summer. 



Usually a shrub 3 to 10 feet high, but, under favourable circum- 

 stances, developing into a moderately large tree, with brown bark, and 

 spreading-erect branches, the young ones reddish-brown or reddish- 

 yellow, tough, but separating readily at the point whence they originate. 

 Leaves, when full grown, 2 to 4 inches long by f to 2 inches broad, 

 tlie broadest part usually a little above the middle ; the base rounded ; 

 the apex generally greatly acmninate, at length coriaceous, smooth 

 above, the under side paler, with the veins conspicuous. Male catkins 

 1 to 2 inches long, at first erect, ultimately pendulous. Catkin-scales 

 pale yellow, concolorous. Female catkins a little shorter than the male, 

 but on longer stalks and with more numerous leaves, their catkin- 

 scales narrower. Nectary with the front portion frequently but 

 slightly developed, but the nectarj'- seems inconstant, as Dumortier and 

 Babington describe it as entire and undivided. Capsule about \ inch 

 long. Young leaves and branches glutinous, fragrant. 



