416 SALICACE^E. (WILLOW FAMILY.) 



(S. myricoides, Muhl.) Inundated banks of rivers and low meadows; com- 

 mon. Shrub 2 -6 high: the first var. larger, or a small tree 6 -15 high, 

 with leaves 4' -6' long. Fruiting catkins 2' -3' in length. 



11. S. aiigustiita, Pursh. (NARROW-LEAVED WILLOW.) Leaves lan- 

 ceolate, acute, tony and tapering to the base, slightly toothed, smooth and scarcely 

 glaucous beneath ; stipules half-heart-shaped ; catkins large, appearing before the 

 leaves; ovary tapering into a long style. New York to Wisconsin and southwet- 

 ward. Catkins resembling those of No. 4 in size and aspect; but the c varies 

 are quite smooth and very white. 



$ 3. Catkins lateral, with a few leafy bracts at the base, appearing with the leaves in 

 May or Jane : ovary stalked, silky : stamens 2 : scales persistent. 



12. S. rostra ta, Richardson. (LONG-BEAKED WILLOW.) Leaves obhng 

 or obovate-lanceolate, acute, obscurely toothed, downy abovQ, prominently ciii/nl, 

 softly hairy and glaucous beneath ; stipules semilunar, toothed ; catkins cylindrical, 

 the fertile becoming loose in fruit ; pods tapering into a long beak, on stalks longer 

 than the yellow lanceolate scales. Borders of woods and meadows, New England 

 to Penn., Illinois, and northward. A shrub or small tree, 4 -15 high, 

 with soft velvety leaves, somewhat variable in form. A transformation of the 

 anthers into imperfect ovaries is frequently observable in this species, and occa- 

 sionally in some others. 



13. S. pliylicifolia, L. (SMOOTH MOUNTAIN- WILLOW.) Leaves lan- 

 ceolate or ovate-lanceolate, somewhat pointed, or obtuse at each end, remotely 

 and minutely repand-toothed, smooth and shining above, glaucous beneath , fertile 

 catkins ovoid ; ovary ovoid-conic, very short-stalked ; style elongated; stalk of (lie 

 mature pods about twice the length of the gland ; scales black, sparingly clothed wilh 

 long white hairs. Moist ravines, on the alpine summits of the White Moun- 

 tains, New Hampshire, Oakes, Tuckerman, &c. A low spreading shrub, with 

 leaves of a coriaceous texture when old. (Eu.) 



$ 4. Catkins peditncled (long and loose), borne on the summit of lateral leafy branches 

 of the season, appearing in May and June : scales greenish-yellow, more or less 

 hairy, falling before the pods are ripe : filaments slightly united, Jiairy below. 

 Shrubs and trees, with the branches very brittle at the base. 

 # Ovary sessile, smooth : stamens 2. 



14. S. ALBA, L. (WHITE WILLOW.) Leaves lanceolate or elliptic-lanceo- 

 late, pointed, toothed, clothed more or less with white and silky hairs, especially 

 beneath ; stipules lanceolate ; stigmas nearly sessile, thick and recurved. Var. 

 VITELL!NA has yellow or light red branches; leaves shorter and broader. (R 

 vitcllina, Smith fr Boi-rer. S. Pameachiana, Barratt.} Var. cacRfrLEA has the 

 K-;i\ es nearly smooth at maturity, and greatly resembles the next species. (S. 

 cffirulca, Smith.) A familiar tree, of rapid growth, attaining a height of 50- 

 80. (Adv. from Eu.) 



* # Ovary stalked, smooth : stamens 2-6. 



15. . FRAGILIS, L. (BRITTLE WILLOW.) Leaves lanceolate, taper-pointed, 

 smooth, glaucous beneath (slightly silky when young), serrate with inflexed teeth -. 

 Stipules half-heart-shaped ; stamens commonly 2.- Var. DECtoiENS has dark 



