1550 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



entire, though slightly wavy at the edges, and somewhat revolnte; the 

 upper side green, glabrous, even ; under side pure white, with close cot- 

 tony, or rather silky, down. Stipules linear-lanceolate. Catkins numerous, 

 lateral, sessile, full 1 in. long." (Smith.) This species i.s readily distinguished 

 from others of the section to which it belongs by the white satiny under 

 surface of its leaves. It is held in high estimation for the various kinds 

 of basketwork, bands, &c. ; and it is generally employed for such purposes. 

 Varieties. One has the bark of the branchlets of a testaceous colour 

 (brownish yellow) ; another dark brown ; and the leaves of this variety are 

 of a darker green : but there are many intermediate varieties. (Koch Comm.) 

 " There is a variety called the velvet osier, in which no external difference 

 is discernible ; but the twigs are said to be more pliant." It is much 

 esteemed as an osier for wickerwork. (Smith Eng. Fl., iv. p. 229.) Perhaps 

 it is right to understand Smith as intending this as a distinct kind from 

 " the true velvet osier," which he has noticed under S. Smith/n, and 

 which is mentioned in this work under S. holoserf cea. In the neighbourhood 

 of Edinburgh, a brown-barked variety, probably the same as that mentioned 

 by Koch, is grown for hoops, under the name of the Dutch willow. It 

 makes shoots 10ft. or 12ft. long in one season. Plants are common in 

 the nurseries. Species named S. Villaresi/, S. purpurea mas, and S. rubra, 

 sent to us from the arboretum of Messrs. Loddiges, are all the same as S. 

 viminalis. 



Culture, fyc. There is nothing peculiar in the culture of this species, or its 

 varieties ; but, as it is a vigorous grower, those who cultivate it in quantities 

 for basket-making or hoops generally plant it in the best soil, intersected by 

 watercourses, so that the roots may always have that element within their 

 reach. Accounts of the formation, management, and profit attending osier 

 plantations will be found in the Bath Agricultural Society's Papers, vol. xvi. 

 p. 129. ; Transactions of the Society of Arts, vols. 19, 20. 22, 23, and 24. : but, 

 after our general directions for the culture and management of basket and 

 hoop willows (p. 1467.), it is unnecessary here to enter into farther details. 



a 76. S. STIPULA^RIS Smith. The stipuled, or auricled-lcaved, Osier, or 



Willow. 



Identification. Smith Fl. Brit, p. 1069. ; Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 708. ; Koch de Sal. Europ. Comm., 

 p. 29. ; Smith Eng. Bot., t. 1214. ; Eng. Flora, 4. p. 230. ; Hook. Br. FL, ed. 2., p. 420. ; Mackay Fl. 

 Hibern., pt. 1. p. 249. 



The Sexes. Both are described in Eng. Flora, and both are figured in Eng. Bot., and both in Sal. 

 IVob. 



Engravings. Eng. Bot, L 1214. ; Sal. Wob., 132. ; snd./zg. 132. in p. 1628. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves lanceolate, pointed, slightly wavy, obscurely crenate ; 

 soft and nearly naked above, white and downy beneath. Stipules half- 

 heart-shaped, stalked, very large. Gland cylindrical. Ovary ovate, nearly 

 sessile, as well as the linear undivided stigmas. (Smith E. F.) A native 

 of England, in osier holts, hedges, and woods ; and flowering in March. 

 " Twigs upright, tall, soft and downy, of a pale reddish brown, brittle, and 

 of little or no use as an osier. Leaves almost upright, numerous, about 

 a span long, sharp-pointed, unequally and slightly crenate, green, even, 

 and soft; though hardly downy above, finely downy and whitish beneath, 

 with a nearly smooth, reddish, or pale midrib, and remarkably downy, or, 

 as it were, fringed, veins. Footstalks stout, \ in. or fin. long." (Smith.) 

 " Allied to S. viminalis in fructification ; differing in its larger and coarser 

 leaves, less white beneath ; and in their large, very remarkable stipules." 

 (Hook. Br.Fl.) " It is not worthy of cultivation for any economical purpose : 

 yet it was sent several times to the late Mr. Sowerby to draw, as the 

 true viminalis, the valuable qualities of which every body knows." (Smith 

 E. F.) Common in the nurseries. 



77. S. SMITH/^A^ Willd. Smith's Willow, or the silky-leaved Osier. 



JdenlificMhm. Willd. Enum., 1008.; Smith Eng. Fl., 4. p. 229.; Forbes in Sal. \Voli., No. I.M., - 

 far as relates to the female; Hook. Br. Fl.,ed. 2., p. 420. ; Mackay Fl. Hibern., pt. 1. p. 250. 



