a. 
189 
Che Flova of Wiltshire. 
COMPRISING THE 
Flowering Plants and Ferns indigenous to the County. 
By Tuomas Bruczs Frower, M.R.C.S., F.L.S., &., &e. 
No. XIV. 
ORDER. AMENTIFERA. (LINDL.) 
Plants having an amentum or catkin as their infloresence. 
Satrx, (Livy.) Wittow, Osrmr, Satiow. 
Linn. Cl. xxii., Ord. i. 
Named, according to Théis, from sa/, near, and lis, water, in Celtic ; 
but the Welsh and Celtic name of the tree is helig, the Cornish one 
_ helak, and the Gaelic and Irish sezleach, from any of which Sahz is 
rather derivable. 
1. 8. fragils (Linn.) crack Willow, Withy. The young branches 
readily separate from the trunk in spring with the slightest blow 
or jerk, their bases being as brittle as glass ; hence the specific name. 
Engl. Bot. t. 1807. ‘ 
Locality. Damp meadows and osier grounds. Tree Fl. April, 
May. Area, 1. * 3.4.5. In all the Districts but the South- 
_ middle where it has not been recorded. A tall bushy-headed ¢ree, 
very near the common Willow, whose branches are set on obliquely, 
somewhat crossing each other, not continued in a straight line, by 
which it may readily be distinguished in winter. Branches round, 
_ yery smooth, brown, brittle in the spring, and hence the wood is 
_ of little or no value. Dr. Anderssen doubts this being indigenous in 
Britain. 
_ 2. 8. alba, (Linn.) white Willow. Foliage, of a silvery grey hue ; 
hence the name alba. ngl. Bot. t. 2430. 
Locality. In moist meadows, and hedge-rows, in marshes, along 
streams. Tree Fl. May. Area, 1. 2.3.4.5. Frequent in all the 
| Districts, and one of the most common of our native Willows. 4 
