&&e.J LXXill. AMENTACE^. 413 



12. S. lanata, Linn. (fig. 929). Wody W. A stout, much branched 

 shrub, attaining about 2 feet in height, allied to S. Lapponum, but the 

 leaves are usually ovate, covered on both sides with a thick, soft, silky 

 wool, and the catkins longer, clothed with dense, long, silky hairs, of a 

 fine golden yellow ; in fruit near 3 inches in length. Capsules sessile, 

 cottony, tapering at the top, more than three lines long. 



A high northern and Arctic species, both in Europe and Asia. In 

 Britain, confined to a few rocky alpine glens in Scotland. Fl. early 

 summer. {S. Sadleri, Byrne, a dwarf species referred in former editions 

 to S. Myrsinites, is confined to a single spot in the mountains of Forfar- 

 shire, and is believed to be a starved extipulate form of S. lanata.] 



13. S. Myrsinites, Linn. (tig. 930). Whortle W.A low, scraggy, 

 much branched shrub, sometimes closely procumbent, though not 

 creeping underground, sometimes rising to the height of a foot or more. 

 Leaves small, orbicular, ovate or lanceolate, bright green, with promi- 

 nent veins, and finely toothed ; usually with long, silky hairs when 

 young, becoming glabrous when old. Catkins loosely cylindrical, ^ to 

 1 inch long in flower, 1 to 2 inches when in fruit, always borne on 

 short, leafy shoots or peduncles. Capsules nearly sessile, about 2 lines 

 long, more or less hairy. 



In the mountains of northern, central, and Arctic Europe and Asia. 

 In Britain, only on the mountains of mid-Scotland and of Sligo in 

 Ireland. Fl. early summer. Under the name of S. Arbuscula, Linn., the 

 British Floras include several plants which appear to be either varieties 

 of S. Myrsinites, of rather larger growth, with short peduncles to the 

 catkins, and the leaves rather glaucous underneath, or perhaps small- 

 leaved varieties of S. phylicifolia, showing in their more toothed leaves 

 and more leafy peduncles an approach to S. Myrsinites. [S. Arbuscula, 

 Linn., is a generally admitted species, a native of the Scotch moun- 

 tains, differing from S. Mi/rsinites, in the leaves shining above and pale 

 or glaucous beneath. It has many forms.] 



[& Grahami, Borr., a Sutherland plant, only known from female speci- 

 mens introduced into the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens, appears to me 

 to be a form of S. Myrsinites, with smaller catkins, paler scales, and a 

 glabrous capsule on a silky pedicel. A similar plant has been found in 

 Donegal.] 



14. S. reticulata, Linn. (fig. 931). Reticulate W. A prostrate, much 

 branched shrub, often spreading, but not rising above 5 or 6 inches 

 from the ground ; the branches glabrous or hairy when young. Leaves 

 obovate or orbicular, quite entire, f to 1 inch long and broad, green, 

 glabrous, and much wrinkled above, white underneath. Catkins on 

 rather long, leafless peduncles, at the ends of short branches, opposite 

 to the last leaf ; both males and females cylindrical, ^ to 1 inch long, 

 shortly downy but not silky-hairy. Capsules cottony, about 1 lines 

 long. 



In the mountains of northern, Arctic, and central Europe, north 

 Asia, and America. In Britain, confined to the loftiest Scotch moun- 

 tains. Fl. summer. 



15. S. herbacea, Linn. (fig. 932). Dwarf W. The smallest of 

 British shrubs, the half -underground stems creeping and rooting some- 

 times to a considerable extent, the branches seldom rising above 2 

 inches from the ground. Leaves obovate or orbicular, above half an 



