THE WILLOWS OF OHIO. 283 



FRAGILES, CRACK WILLOWS. 



Trees, originally introduced from Europe and though now 

 freely escaped, still largely planted and often found growing in 

 rows (except the Weeping Willow). The Lark of the medium- 

 sized branches is smooth, and yellow or greenish as distinguished 

 from the rough brown Lark of the Amygdalenae. The leaves of 

 all the species are glaucous beneath and without stipules unli 

 very young. The catkins are borne with the leaves on lateral 

 branches; the stamens are normally only two; the capsules 

 glabrous and green, in (lower at least, like the Amygdalenae but 

 unlike the other diandrous willows. 



The Fragiles are clearly intermedi ilyan- 



drous tree-willows and the diandrous shrubs. Pun among them- 

 selves their relationships are not o clear. By hybridisation and 

 the importation of various horticultural varieties the group is 

 very much confused and consists of many very closely similar 

 forms, it has been the despair of many Botanists and one finds 

 more mistakes in the determination of this group than in any 

 other. 



Key. 

 Prom habit. 



Growing in clumps. 



Lark of branches green. 5. fragilis. 



Bark yellowish green or yellow S. 



Large trees, not in clumps. 



Bram he long, drooping. S. bal \ .' 



Branches not penduli 



Large branches and trunk disfigured by many ad- 

 ventitious twigs, a tall tree with a central 

 aft, brand lowish. S. a 



Without main- adventitious twigs, a low broad 

 topped tree without a central .shaft, branches 

 en. S. fragilis. 



Fri <m lca\ 



Lei . i 1 1 1 a marginal vein, reticulations very fine, vena- 



tion irregular, leaf narrow, acuminal en strikingly 



falcate, sharply errati S. 



Without marginal, reticulation o line, venation 



ular, leaf broader, not acuminate nor falcate. 



Plate I V. Salt 



L< ..; twig tpyical <>t our American form; tin- single bn >ader 

 sembles in' ire i .hi i' irm . li. ii ural 



