Salix 1755 



nearly glabrous coarsely glandular-serrate large leaves, ending in a long point 

 directed to one side. When adult the stem is covered with a much rougher bark 

 than that of 5. alba, the depressions between the ridges being broad and deep ; on 

 this account buyers of willow timber usually designate it as the "open-bark 

 willow." It is of no value for making cricket bats, as its wood lacks the necessary 

 strength, lightness, and elasticity. 



Varieties and Hybrids 



True 5. fragilis does not seem to be a very variable plant ; but peculiar 

 forms, more or less resembling it, are known, which are supposed to be of hybrid 

 origin. These are described below. The twigs in some trees become dull grey in 

 the second year, whilst in others they assume a brilliant orange colour. Varieties 

 founded on the size of the leaf or on the colour of its lower surface are not sufficiently 

 distinct to be worth naming ; and the two forms, vars. britannica and genuina, 

 Buchanan White, in Journ. Linn. Soc. (Bot.) xxvii. 368 (1890) based on the relative 

 length of the bract and flower, are untenable, as this depends simply on the age at 

 which individual flowers are observed. 



The following are supposed to be hybrids : 



1. Salix decipiens, Hoffmann, Hort. Sal. ii. 9, t. 31 (1791); Smith, Eng. Bot. 

 t. 1937 (1808); Forbes, Sal. Woburn. t. 29 (1829); Buchanan White, in Journ. 

 Linn. Soc. (Bot.) xxvi. 348 (1890). 



Salix fragilis, var. decipiens, Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ. 643 (1837). 

 Salix car dinalis, Veitch, Cat. Trees and Shrubs, 1910, p. 75. 



A shrub or small tree. Young branchlets crimson or dark red, glabrous ; 

 becoming in the second year polished and yellowish white or of a clay colour. Leaves 

 glabrous, smaller than those of S. fragilis, 2 to 3 in. long, \ to f in. broad, 

 more oblong, more parallel-sided, usually less narrowed and often rounded at the 

 base ; under surface pale dull green, scarcely glaucous ; serrations finer, sharper, and 

 closer together than in S. fragilis. This is supposed to be a hybrid between 5. 

 fragilis and S. triandra, and occurs in both sexes. The catkins of the female plant 

 are intermediate between these two species ; while the number of stamens in the 

 male plant is usually two, rarely three. 



S. decipiens, according to Buchanan White, is widely spread, but not abundant 

 in Britain ; and is usually found growing in company with S. triandra and S. fragilis. 

 He mentions various localities from Perth to Somerset. There are specimens in the 

 Kew Herbarium from Dorset, Sussex, and Essex. This species was said by Forbes 1 

 to be cultivated for basket-work, producing when cut crimson-coloured annual shoots, 

 which are very remarkable in appearance. It appears 2 to be largely used at the 



1 Sal. Woburn. 57, t. 29 (1829). Cf. also Loudon, Arb. et Frut. Brit. Hi. 1515 (1838). Smith, Eng. Bot. t. 1937 

 (1808), states that Crowe found it in several osier beds in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, where it was known as white Welsh 

 osier. 



2 Cf. Ellmore and Okey, in Journ. Board Agric. xviii. 915 (1912), who refer to it as Salix alba, var. cardinalis. 



