CHAP. CIIL. SATICA‘CER. SALIX. 1455 
Hayne Dendr., as cited in Koch Comm. It seems that Koch (Comm.) and 
Lindley (Synops. Brit. Fl.) view the kinds of the group Purptrez which 
have only | stamen to a flower, as having that stamen constituted of 2 com- 
bined. Besides the kinds of that group treated of in our work, exclusively of 
S. rubra, which may be examined as to the testing of this view, S. oppositi- 
folia of Host’s Sal, Austr., i. t. 38.; S. austriaca Lbid., i. t. 64.; S. montana 
Ibid., i. t. 73. f. 5.; and S. monandra Jbid., i. t. 71., may also be inspected. 
The Sexes. Botanists seem to differ in opinion, as to the influence which 
the sex has upon the character, or appearance, of the plants. Dr. Walker 
says that “the male and female, of the same species, often differ remarkably 
from each other in their foliage ;” and he instances the S. alba Z., in the female 
of which, he says, “the leaves are much larger, greener, and not so white, sil- 
very, and pubescent, as those of the male. This makes the difference in their 
aspect so great, he says, that, when standing together, they might, at first view, 
be presumed to be different species. In general,” he adds, “ the female of most 
plants is of more vigorous growth, of larger size, and less brittle, than the 
male; and,” therefore, “the female ought always to be preferred when the 
species is to be cultivated for economical purposes that require strength; and 
the male for those which require delicacy.” (Essays, p.420.) Sir J. E. Smith 
is of a very different opinion from Dr. Walker, asserting that between a male 
and a female plant of the same species “there is not the slightest possible dif- 
ference in the character or appearance of the two individuals, in any other 
respect” than in their flowers. (ng. Flor., vol. iv. p. 163.) Most other 
botanists seem to incline more to the opinion of Dr. Walker, than to that of 
Sir J. E. Smith (see Desfontaines’s Histoire, &c., vol. ii. p. 460.; N. Du 
Ham., vol. iii. p. 104., &c.) ; and it is only necessary to turn over the figures 
of the splendid work of Host, in which engravings, a foot or two in length, 
are given of the male and female of every species, to be convinced that the view 
taken by Dr. Walker is correct. The importance, then, of knowing to what 
sex any species of willow belongs that we intend to cultivate for use is 
obvious. It appears, also, from Dr. Host’s work, that the colour of the 
young wood, in the one sex, often differs from that of the other; for 
example, the young shoots of S. alba, female, are not only stronger, and the 
leaves broader, than those of the male, but the bark is of a dark red; while 
the young wood of the male is of a whitish green. 
Hybrids. The production of hybrids in this genus was observed by Seo- 
oli in 1760, and has since been confirmed or admitted by most other bota- 
nists. ‘The great number of hybrids in this genus,” Koch observes, “no 
one can deny.” (p.9.) Sir J. E. Smith, however, formed quite a different 
opinion. During the thirty years that he studied the willows in Mr. Crowe’s 
garden, along with that botanist, “ seedlings innumerable,” he says, “ springing 
up all over the ground, were never destroyed till their species were de- 
termined, and the immutability of each verified by our joint inspection. This 
was the more material, to set aside the gratuitous suppositions of the mixture 
of species, or the production of new or hybrid ones, of which, no more than 
of any change in established species, I have never met with an instance. 
Strange alterations in the shapes and sizes of leaves, and their stipules, have, 
indeed, been seen on young radical shoots, from a tree or bush that has been 
felled; but not more than usually happens in poplars, limes, elms, and 
others.” (Hng. F/.,iv. p.165.) It is much to be wished that some cultivator 
of willows would endeavour to originate, scientifically, some hybrids between 
Species with opposite characters of foliage, which would set this question 
at rest. 
Geography. The willows are chiefly natives of the colder parts of the 
temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. They are generally found in 
moist soil, or by water; the trees on plains, and the creeping or trailing 
‘sorts on heaths and mountains. A few species are natives of the arctic circle; 
and S. herbacea and S. arctica approach nearer to the pole than any other lig- 
neous plants. S, babylonica is a native of Armenia, and also of China and Japan; 
5c 
