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, orsericeate when young 

 oftenest with ferruginous hair, venation so similar to that of >'. 

 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, pilosi Jules long pedicelled, acutish, 



in fruit cylindric ionic, more than 4 mm. long. 



The i haracter 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 >'. sericea comes especially late in the sea- 

 son when that species begins to lo pubescence and to become 

 mor tssy 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 

 a. 



Salix petiolaris is the rn form of Salix sericea or rather 



since that .as later named, it is the eastern form of >'. 



peti ofwhichil made a variety by Andersson. It aln 



though that the proper treatment and that we 



should be doing well to return to Andersson's view but the ear; 

 late amenl n fairly distinct. 



We are near the eastern border of the range of Salix petio- 

 laris. It' rather rarely in Ohio and has been found only in 

 the north a portion of the state, though it may extend well 

 ard along the lake h< 



S<di\ His Anders. Frequently one meets with 



forms of t In- Slender Willow with even m< ire -lender and graceful 



than the usual form. This variety has been given the name 



Andi It is characterized by narrower, more 



'rate l( ind longer pedicels than the typical form. 



It ma) perhaps bi a- the extreme development of the 



type farthesl from S. i It i> to be expected wherever S. 



peti iund. 



