4G8 LXXI. SALICINE^. [Salix. 



rous above, grey-torn entose beneath, more or less rugose ; main lateral 

 nerves prominent, 8-12 on either side of midrib, with shorter intermediate 

 ones between ; stipules large, semi-reniform. Flowers appearing before 

 the leaves ; catkins densely silky, subsessile, supported at their base by a 

 few foliaceous bracts. Male catkins ovoid-oblong, thick, about 1 in. long, 

 erect, sweet-scented, scales dark -coloured ; stamens 2 ; anthers elliptic- 

 oblong. Female catkins cylindric, 2-3 in. long, nodding; scales black 

 above the middle ; capsules "downy grey, \ in. long, cylindric from an 

 ovoid base, on short pedicels ; stigmas 2, erect, subsessile. 



Cultivated at Peshawar, Lahore, Ludiana, and elsewhere in the Panjab, also 

 in Rohilkhancl. Wild throughout Europe (Lapland), in North Asia, on the 

 Caucasus, in Asia Minor and Persia. Said to have been introduced in the 

 Panjab from Kashmir by Hari Chand, soon after he conquered that country 

 for Ranjit Singh, but has not been found wild there. Dr Stewart thought that 

 it had been introduced into India by the Moguls. The leaves are shed about 

 the end of December, and the tree is leafless until March. The flowers appear 

 in Feb. while the tree is bare ; they are collected and a scented water is dis- 

 tilled from them, which is mixed with sherbet and is a favourite drink of wealthy 

 Musalmans in North India. 



As grown in India, it is a small tree 25-30 ft. high, with short erect trunk 3 ft. 

 girth. The Willow-gardens at Lahore, several acres in extent, are on low alluvial 

 moist land near the Ravi, and consist entirely of male trees. The tree is raised 

 from cuttings ; they are irrigated occasionally, and are never pollarded. Bark 

 dark grey or yellowish-brown, cut into irregular smooth plates by longitudinal, 

 branching black furrows, with cracked wrinkled edges, and short cross-cracks. 



In Europe the Sallow occurs generally as a large shrub, as underwood, and in 

 coppice-woods ; often a useless companion of more valuable woods in young 

 thickets, plantations, or coppice -woods, and generally thinned out whenever 

 possible. In Kent there were formerly large extents of coppice of this willow, 

 for the production of hop-poles, but they have mostly given way to the more 

 profitable Ash and Sweet Chestnut. In England it flowers about the end of 

 March or the beginning of April, and the flowering branches of the male tree 

 are used instead of palms in Roman Catholic churches on Palm Sunday. The 

 bark of this and of several other Willows contains tannin, and is used for the 

 manufacture of leather in Scotland and the north of Scandinavia. In Europe 

 the wood is reddish near the centre ; it is somewhat heavier than that of most 

 other European species. Nordlinger gives 27-39, and Mathieu mentions a piece 

 from Corsica of 46 lb. 



8. S. Wallichiana, And. Tab. LXI DC. Prodr. xvi. ii. 223. Vern. 



Bwir, Pb. ; Bhains, bhangli, Tcatguli, N.W.P. 



A shrub or small tree, youngest shoots and under side of leaves glossy 

 with grey silky pubescence. Leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, smooth, 

 not rugose, entire, 2-3 in. long ; lateral nerves numerous, not very con- 

 spicuous. Flowers appearing before the leaves ; catkins densely silky, sub- 

 sessile, supported at their base by a few foliaceous bracts ; scales black. 

 Male catkins erect, cylindric, 1-1 J in. long; stamens 2, anthers elliptic- 

 oblong. Female catkins cylindric, 3-4 in. long, drooping, scales black ; 

 capsules downy, grey, slender, in. long, short-pedicellate; stigmas 2, 

 erect, subsessile. Distinguished from S. Caprca by the shape and silky 



