SALIX 489 



and Labrador. A very distinct and interesting dwarf willow, with compara- 

 tively longer leaf-stalks than any other species. Suitable for the alpine garden. 



S. RETUSA, Limmus. 



A low, spreading shrub, reaching only a few inches above the ground, the 

 branches creeping and taking root ; young shoots smooth. Leaves obovate 

 or lozenge-shaped, \ to f in. long, ^ to in. wide ; tapered at the base, 

 blunt or rounded at the apex, not toothed, quite smooth and green on both 

 sides ; stalk \ in. or less long ; nerves in three to six pairs. Catkins erect, 

 stalked, cylindrical, about in. long, produced at the end of short, leafy shoots 

 in May and June. 



Native of the mountains of Central and E. Europe ; introduced in 1763. 

 A neat little alpine shrub, forming close tufts in exposed places, but spreading 

 more freely when planted in gardens. Suitable for the rock garden. 



S. SERPYLLIFOLIA, Scopoli, is closely allied to S. retusa, and is sometimes 

 regarded as a variety of it. It differs chiefly in the smaller leaves, which in 

 nature are only \ to \ in. long, forming with its stunted branches a close 

 dense tuft. Under cultivation the plant becomes more creeping, and the 

 leaves up to in. long. They are obovate, notched, rounded or pointed at 

 the apex ; nerves two to four each side. Native of the Alps of Europe. 



S. ROSMARINIFOLIA, Linn&us. ROSEMARY WILLOW. 



(S. Friesiana, Andersson.~) 



This is a well-known name in gardens, but is usually misapplied to 

 S. incana. The true rosmarinifolia of Linnasus appears to be a hybrid between 

 repens and viminalis, a bushy shrub with brown, slightly downy young twigs 

 and linear leaves, i^ to 3 ins. long, ^ to J- in. wide, green and slightly'downy 

 above, and of a glistening silvery white beneath very much resembling 

 S. viminalis in this respect. S. incana differs from it in the lower surface 

 being dull, not glistening. 



There is some confusion also between rosmarinifolia and angustifolia; the 

 true plant of the latter name (a native of the Caucasus) is another very 

 narrow-leaved willow, but the leaves are grey-green beneath, and almost 

 glabrous by autumn. 



Finally, a variety of S. repens (S. r. var. angustifolia) has also been called 

 " rosmarinifolia." This has shorter more lance-shaped leaves than the hybrid 

 between repens and viminalis, but in the opinion of some it is the true 

 rosmarinifolia of Linnasus. In view of the confusion in which the name is 

 involved, -it would seem simplest to drop it altogether, and give the hybrid 

 Andersson's name of S. Friesiana (see Dr F. B. White in Journ. Linn. Soc.* 

 vol. xxvii. p. 39). 



S. RUBRA, Hudson. 



A hybrid between S. purpurea and S. viminalis, forming a small tree ; 

 young twigs slightly downy at first. Leaves linear-lanceolate, with long, 

 tapered points, the base more abruptly tapered ; distantly toothed except 

 towards the base ; 2 to 5^- ins. long, \ to in. wide ; green and smooth on 

 both sides when mature, but grey and slightly downy beneath when young ; 

 stalk \ to \ in. long. Catkins produced on the naked shoots in April, 

 i to \\ ins. long. Stamens two, but with stalks united towards the base, or 

 sometimes nearly to the anthers.. 



Native of Britain and Europe, and highly valued by basket-makers. The 

 II 2 I 



