CHAP. cm. ,VALICA V CE;E. &VLJX. 1.539 



stem is much branched, elongated, and decumbent. Branches elongated, wand- 

 like, 1 ft. or 1 ft. 6 in. long, spreading obliquely, or else procumbent ; very densely 

 clothed with innumerable leaves, round, thickish, hairy or silky. Leaves spread- 

 ing or recurved, about in. long, of a broad elliptical figure, w'ith curved points ; 

 the margin slightly revolutc, either quite entire, or marked here and there with 

 a minute glaiulular'tooth ; the upper surface is of a dull lightish green, and nearly 

 glabrous ; the under surface glaucous, and more or less silky. Footstalks very 

 short, and broad. Catkins of the female ovate, dense, yellowish. Both sexes are 

 figured in Sal. Wob. j the female is described in Eng. Bot. 



Both these kinds or subvarieties are distinguished by their strong 

 fishy smell. " This odour becomes powerfully offensive, when fresh 

 specimens have been confined in a box for several days." (Eng. Fl. y 

 iv. p. 209.) 



* S. f. 5 incubacea ; S. f. 5 Hook. Br. Fl., ed. 3. ; S. incubacea Lin. 

 Sp. PL, 1447., Fl.Suec., ed. 2., 351., Smith Eng. FL, iv. p. 212., 

 exclusively of all the synonymes, according to Borrer in Eng. Bot. 

 Suppl., except the two of Linnaeus quoted above, Forbes in Sal. 

 Wob., No. 79., our fig. 79. in p. 1618., Borrer in Eng. Bot. Suppl., 

 t. 2600., Hayne Abbild., p. 243. t. 185. The female is described in 

 Eng. Flora and Eng. Bot. SuppL, and figured in Eng. Bot. Suppl., 

 Sal. Wob., and Hayne Abbild. Mr. Borrer, in Eng. Bot. Suppl., has 

 treated of this as a species, although he has since regarded it as a 

 variety. The following is the specific character, given in Engl.Bot. 

 Suppl., and it will serve to portray the characteristic features of the 

 kind, whether viewed as a species or a variety. Leaves elliptic-lan- 

 ceolate, nearly entire, acute, with a twisted point ; glaucous and silky 

 beneath. Stipules stalked, ovate, acute. Stem procumbent. 

 Branches erect. Catkins erect, oblong-cylindrical. Stalk of the 

 silky ovary about as long as the obovate bractea (scale). (Borrer.) 

 Wild in England, at Hoptcm in Suffolk, in Anglesea on sandy 

 shores ; and in Switzerland and Germany. A shrub, about 4 ft. 

 high. It shows "the closest affinity' to S. argentea Smith, in its 

 mode of growth, flowers, stipules, and silky pubescence ; and from 

 which it differs in little besides the shape of the leaf. Serratures 

 are, indeed, more frequently found, and more apparent when 

 present ; but in S. argentea the leaves are not always strictly 

 entire. We have seen, on Swiss specimens, the male flowers of S. 

 incubacea, but they afford no distinctive marks." (Borrer.) 



Jc S / 6 argentea ; S. f. 6 Hook. Br. FL, ed. 2. ; S. argentea Smith 

 Eng. Bot., t. 1364., Reefs Cyclo., No. 98., Willd. Sp. PI., iv. p. 693., 

 Smith Eng. FL, iv. p. 206., Walker's Essays, p. 435., Forbes in Sal. 

 Wob., No 78., our fig. 78. in p. 1618., Hayne Abbild., p. 240. 1. 182.; 

 S. repens Koch y Koch Comm., p. 47. Stem erect, or spreading. 

 Leaf elliptical, with a recurved point; the under surface very silvery. 

 The following information on this kind is derived from Engl. Fl. 

 and Sal. Wob., chiefly the former : Leaves elliptical, entire, some- 

 what revolute, with a recurved point; rather downy above, silky and 

 shining beneath, as well as the branches. Stem upright. Ovary 

 ovate-lanceolate, silky; its silky stalk nearly equal to the linear 

 oblong bractea. Style not longer than the stigmas. (Smith E. Fl.) 

 A native of England, on dry heath and sandy situations, chiefly 

 near the sea ; flowering in April and May. Steins mostly spreading, 

 but, it' sheltered, erect; 4ft. or 5ft. high, with numerous, upright, 

 leafy branches, beautifully downy or silky. Leaves on short, 

 stout, downy footstalks, scattered ; 1 in., or often less, in length, 

 and half as much in breadth ; truly elliptical, with a small curved 

 point; the margin entire, slightly revolute; the upper side of a dull 

 uivi-u, at first silky, then downy, finally naked, reticulated with small 

 veins ; under side covered at all times with the most brilliant, silvery, 

 satin-like, close, silky hairs, very soft, almost concealing the strong 

 midrib and transverse veins. Catkins appearing before the leaves. 

 5 H 3 



