1516 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART III. 



glabrous. Styles scarcely so long as the notched stigmas. (Sal. Wob., p. 37.) 

 A native of Switzerland, where it forms an upright-growing tree, much re- 

 sembling S. vitellina, both in twigs and foliage. Catkins accompanying the 

 leaves, or appearing immediately after their expansion in May and June, 

 and nearly 2 in. long. According to Mr. Forbes, this species deserves cul- 

 tivation for the sake of its twigs and rods, which are little, if at all, inferior 

 to those of S. vitellina for tying, and for the finer sorts of wickerwork, 

 baskets, &c. There are plants in the Gold worth Arboretum, and also at 

 Woburn Abbey and Flitwick House. 



3f 22. S FRA'GILIS L. The brittle-twigged, or Crack, Willow. 



Identification Lin. Sp. PI., 1443. ; Willd. Sp. PI., 4 p. 669. ; Smith Eng. Bot, t. 1807. ; Eng. FL, 4. 



P . 1804 ; Forbes in Sal. Wob., No. 27. ; Hook. Br. Fl., ed. 3., p. 421.; Mackay FL Hibern., pt. 1. 



p. 246. 



Syncn^me. S. fragilis, in part, Koch Comm., p. 15. 

 The Sexes. Both sexes are figured in Eng. Bot. and Sal. Wob. 



Engravings. Lin. Fl. Lapp., No. 349. t. 8. f. b. ; Eng. Bot.t. 1807. ; Sal. Wob., No. 27. ; OUT Jig. 1310.; 

 /g. 27. in p. 1608. ; and the plate of this tree in our last Volume. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, pointed, serrated throughout, very 

 glabrous. Footstalks glandular. Ovary ovate, abrupt, nearly sessile, gla- 

 brous. Bracteas oblong, about equal to the stamens and pistils. Stigmas 



cloven, longer than the style. (Smith E. F.) A native of Britain, and 

 frequent on the banks of rivers in marshy ground ; flowering in April and 

 May. A tall bushy-headed tree, sometimes found from 80 ft. to 90 ft. in 

 height, with the branches set on obliquely, somewhat crossing each other, 

 not continued in a straight line outwards from the trunk ; by which cha- 

 racter, Sir J. E. Smith observes, it may readily be distinguished even in 

 winter. The branches are round, very smooth, " and so brittle at the base, 

 in spring, that with the slightest blow they start from the trunk." Whence 

 the name of crack willow; though, according to Sir J. E. Smith, this "is 

 more or less the case with S. decfpiens, and several other willows, both 

 native and exotic." Many medical properties were formerly attributed to 



