212 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Tree. Late Spring, early Summer. 



A tree attaining a great size, with thick fissured bark; branches 

 more erect than in S. fragilis, the shoots of the year generally silky- 

 pubescent. Leaves 2 ^ to 4 inches long, with the lateral margins more 

 regularly curved from the base to the apex than in S. fragilis ; and in 

 the typical form, both sides are clothed with silky white hairs, especially 

 when young; when old the upper side becomes green from the pube- 

 scence being sparse, the under side in var. /3 is at length nearly 

 denuded and glaucous. The male catkins are shorter and more slender 

 than those of S. fragilis, with the filaments and anthers darker yellow. 

 The female catkins are much more slender and lax than in S. fragilis 

 and S. viridis, with longer catkin-scales and with very shortly stalked 

 ovaries, which are more ovate and less pointed, and remain green, even 

 when ripe, and have the styles shorter than the stigmas. Both the 

 male and female catkins are more erect while in flower. 



The var. y is now generally considered a variety or unnatural state 

 of S. alba. According to Andersson, it is said to be often produced by 

 the annual cutting of the trees, and Fries considers that the state 

 with yellow branches of this and several other species of willows is 

 produced by a disease, as if the plant were jaundiced. There is one 

 point, however, connected ^vith the S. vitelhna of the original edition 

 of " English Botany," which appears to have escaped the notice of the 

 writers who have studied the willows, with the exception of Dr. Walker- 

 Arnott — this is, the great length of the catkin-scales in proportion to 

 the essential organs, which gives a very different aspect to the plant. 

 To me, however, it appears that this arises mainly from the essential 

 organs being really less developed, as in var. vitellina the ovaries 

 have exactly the appearance of abortive capsules, such as are often 

 found intermixed with the perfect ones in the varieties a and /3. Such 

 imperfections we might readily expect, if the form be produced by 

 mutilation or disease. 



Var. a, White Willow. Var. /3, Blua Willow. Var. y, Golden Willow. 



French, Saule hlanc. German, Weisse Weide. 



This species of willow is more frequently used for timber than any other. It grows 

 rapidly, and the wood is soft and white, but firm, and adapted for many purposes in 

 which durability is not an object. It answers well for house timber, if not exposed to 

 damp, and is suitable for flooring. In the roofs of houses, rafters of this timber have 

 been known to stand one hundred years. It is in great demand for common casks 

 and other cooper's work, while its softness and whiteness render it valuable to the 

 turner. The younger branches are used for handles for agricultural implements, such 

 as rakes and hoes, and are much lighter than ash, and equally durable, if kept from 

 the weather. Split into thin, long strips, the smaller branches are woven into a mate- 

 rial that is much used as a substitute for straw in making hats and bonnets — a 

 manufacture carried on in Caen, in JSTormandy, as well as in London. As fuel, white 

 AVI How is not very economical, but burns rapidly, and gives out a great deal of heat, 



