THE WILLOWS OF OHIO. 303 
SALIX PETIOLARIS Smith. SLENDER WILLOW. 
A shrub very similar to Salix sericea in habit. But typical 
leaves are quite different from those of that species in general 
appearance. Unfortunately, however, in this region connecting 
forms sometimes render it impossible to distinguish the two from 
the leaves alone. They are rather narrower, margin (sometimes 
entire) serrate with more prominent, blunt cartilaginous teeth, 
subglossy above, quite glaucous beneath, or sericeate when young 
oftenest with ferruginous hair, venation so similar to that of S. 
sericea that it cannot be distinguished unless by the more ascend- 
ing primaries and the finer reticulations. Carpellate aments 
short peduncled, becoming somewhat lax in fruit, scales yellow, 
mostly darkened above, pilose, capsules long pedicelled, acutish, 
in fruit cylindric conic, more than 4 mm. long. 
The character of the leaves in the extreme form is very simi- 
lar to that of the Broad-leaved Willow with which they might 
be confused were it not for their narrowness. The difficulty in 
separating them from S. sericea comes especially late in the sea- 
son when that species begins to lose its pubescence and to become 
more glossy on the upper surface. The catkins sometimes re- 
semble those of Salix bebbiana but can be distinguished by the 
darkened rather than yellow scales. With these exceptions the 
present species is not likely to be confused with any other in our 
area. 
Salix petiolaris is the western form of Salix sericea or rather 
since that species was later named, it is the eastern form of S. 
petiolaris of which it was made a variety by Andersson. It almost 
seems as though that were the proper treatment and that we 
should be doing well to return to Andersson’s view but the carpel- 
late aments seem fairly distinct. 
We are near the eastern border of the range of Salix petio- 
laris. It occurs rather rarely in Ohio and has been found only in 
the north-western portion of the state, though it may extend well 
eastward along the lake shore. 
Salix petiolaris gracilis Anders. Frequently one meets with 
forms of the Slender Willow with even more slender and graceful 
twigs than the usual form. This variety has been given the name 
gracilis by Andersson. It is characterized. by narrower, more 
sharply serrate leaves and longer pedicels than the typical form. 
It may perhaps be taken as the extreme development of the 
type farthest from S. sericea. It is to be expected wherever S. 
petiolaris is found. 
