SALTX SAMBrCUS 493 



Europe. It grows 80 ft. high, and at its middle size has often a broadly 

 columnar habit. 



S. VITELLINA, Linnaus. GOLDEN WILLOW. 



(S. alba var. vitellina, Stokes.') 



A tree up to 60 or 65 ft. high, with young shoots downy near the buds, 

 but becoming by winter smooth and of a brilliant yellow. Leaves narrowly 

 lanceolate, 2 to 4 ins. long, f to i in. wide, tapering to a slender tail-like 

 point, glossy green above, glaucous beneath ; not so silky-hairy as in S. alba. 

 The catkins are longer and more slender than in S. alba, and the scales are 

 longer. According to Henry, the stamens are occasionally three to each 

 flower. 



Of doubtful, perhaps hybrid, origin, this tree is now chiefly planted in 

 gardens for the fine effect produced in winter by its yellow shoots ; for this 

 purpose it is pruned hard every spring so as to develop a low thicket of 

 wands. Several plants should be grouped together. It is also grown in 

 osier beds, but its twigs are chiefly used for tying purposes ; it is of only 

 second or third-rate quality for baskets. Var. BRITZENSIS, Spath, is a form 

 of S. vitellina with bright red bark. There is also a weeping form, PENDULA, 

 ) that is very elegant. 



SALVIA OFFICINALIS, Linnceus. SAGE. LABIATE. 



A sub-evergreen, aromatic shrub, usually i to 2 ft. high, but said in 

 favourable places to become three times as high ; young stems square, 

 and only half woody ; the whole plant is covered with a short down which 

 gives it a grey appearance. Leaves opposite, oblong, 2 to 3^ ins. long, 

 5 to i in. wide; much wrinkled, round-toothed. Flowers arranged in 

 whorls on terminal, erect racemes about 6 ins. long. Corolla tubular, 

 | in. long, two-lipped, purple ; calyx ribbed, funnel-shaped, two-lipped, 

 about half as long as the corolla. Perfect stamens two. Blossoms from 

 June onwards. 



Native of S. Europe; cultivated for centuries as a medicinal and 

 culinary herb, and highly valued in former times for making ".sage-beer" 

 supposed to possess many healing virtues. Sage is still much used for 

 flavouring certain meats. The plant likes a sunny position, and is easily 

 increased by cuttings placed in a handlight. Although rarely seen except 

 in the kitchen garden this plant is worth growing in a collection of old- 

 fashioned, fragrant plants like lavender, rosemary, and such like, for its 

 crowd of erect racemes. There is a variety with white flowers (ALBA), 

 one with stems and leaves of a reddish colour (PURPUREA), and a valueless 

 one with variegated leaves (VARIEGATA). 



SAMBUCUS. ELDER. CAPRIFOLIACE^E. 



About a score species of elder are known, which are widely spread over 

 the temperate parts of the globe. Of these about half a dozen shrubby 



