AMENTIFER^E. 211 



callous-serrate, more or less silky pubescent on both sidee, rarely 

 glabrous when mature. Stipules linear-lanceolate or ovate, very 

 caducous, often absent. Catkins opening at the same time as the 

 leaf-buds expand, on short leafy lateral branches, spreading, cylindrical, 

 rather thin, lax, especially in fruit. Catkin-scales strapshaped, sub- 

 acute, more or less pilose towards the base, glabrous and ciliated 

 towards the apex. Stamens 2 ; filaments hairy in the lower half. 

 Capsule ovate-oblong, glabrous, on a stalk scarcely longer than the 

 nectary; style scarcely any; stigmas rather long, divaricate, notched. 

 Young branches and young leaves almost always silky-pubescent with 

 white hairs. 



Yar. a, genuina. 

 Plate MCCCIX. 



S. alba, Sm. Engl. Bot. ed. i. No. 2430. 



S. alba, var. a, Sm. Engl. Fl. Vol. IV. p. 231. HooT;. & Am. Brit. Fl. ed. viii. p. 401. 



Hooh. Brit. Fl. ed. iv. p. 359. 



Twigs olive. Mature leaves more or less silky on both sides. 



Yar. /3, coerulea. 



Plate MCCCX. 



S. coerulea, Sm. Engl. Bot. ed. i. No. 2431. 



Twigs olive. Leaves at length glabrous and glaucous beneath, 

 and with a bluish tint. 



Yar. 7, vitellina. Koch. 



Plate MCCCXI. 



S. vitellina, Linn. Sm. Engl. Bot. ed. i. No. 1389, and Brit. Fl. ed. iv. p. 182. 

 Hool. & Am. Brit. Fl. ed. viii. p. 401. Hool. Brit. Fl. ed. iv. p. 359. Lindl. 

 Syn. Brit. Fl. p. 231. 



Twigs bright golden-yellow or tinged with red. Leaves glabrous 

 above when mature. " Catkin-scales pointed, longer than either 

 stamens or style." {^Walker- Arnott.) 



By the banks of rivers, and in osier grounds and swamps. Com- 

 mon, and generally distributed, not extending to the extreme north of 

 Scotland. Considered rather a doubtful native of Ireland by the 

 authors of the " Cybele Hibernica." Yar. 3 with the type. Yar. y 

 principally in osier grounds. 



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