SALIX 



479 



gathered by children the Sunday before Easter, when that day coincides 

 with the opening of the flowers. This willow is one of those which bear 

 seeds fairly freely in this country. It is often seen in hedgerows, where its 

 yellow catkins make a cheerful display in early spring. 



Var. PENDULA. Kilmarnock Willow. 

 Has stiffly pendulous branches. 



S. CINEREA, Linnceus. 

 GREY WILLOW. 



A willow of the Caprea or goat willow 

 group, usually 6 to 10 ft. high, mostly 

 shrubby, but occasionally larger and 

 assuming the character of a small tree ; 

 the whole plant is covered with a grey 

 down, which usually persists on the twigs 

 through the second season. Leaves 

 obovate or oval, tapered at the base, 

 pointed ; 2 to 3^ ins. long, f to if ins. 

 wide ; entire or inconspicuously toothed ; 

 stalk up to \ in. in length ; stipules 

 usually large. Catkins very silky, f to 

 \\ ins. long, \ to f in. wide ; produced 

 on the naked shoots in March and 

 April. Stamens two, about twice as long 

 as the silky scale ; ovary silky. 



Native of Europe, including Britain. 

 This willow has much affinity with S. 

 Caprea, but differs in its smaller, usually 

 narrower leaves and catkins. It flowers 

 at the same season, and its flowering 

 twigs are gathered like those of the goat 

 willow on Palm Sunday. Otherwise of 

 little interest. 



Var. TRICOLOR, DippeL Leaves 

 blotched and dotted with yellow and 

 white. Of little beauty so far as I have 

 observed. 



S. CGERULEA, Smith. 



CRICKET-BAT WILLOW. 



(S. alba var. coerulea, Syme.} 



This fine tree, sometimes called the 

 "blue willow, 3 ' occasionally reaches a 

 height of 100 ft., and 15 to 18 ft. in girth. 

 It differs from the white willow in its 

 pyramidal growth and erect branching, 

 and by the leaves losing their silky down 

 and becoming glabrous late in the 



summer, and blue-grey beneath. Only the female tree is known, and its 

 ovaries, according to Henry, are slightly stalked, thus differing from the 

 stalkless ones of S. alba. On the whole, it is best distinguished from that' 

 species by its habit of growth. 



The origin of this valuable willow is uncertain. It appears to be confined 



SALIX CAPRKA (male catkins). 



