SALICACE^E. (WILLOW FAMILY.) 465 



stamens 3-6; pods mostly short-ovate. (S. ambigua, Pursh.) Yar. FALCATA 

 has the leaves elongated, scythe-shaped, and the stipules large, broadly lunate, re- 

 flexed. (S. falcata, Pursh. S. Purshiana, Spreng. S. ligustrina, Michx.f.) 

 Tree 15- 25 high, with a rough black bark : frequent along streams, especially 

 southward. 



* * Stamens mostly 2 : ovary very short-stalked or nearly sessile, glabrous. 



14. S. FRAGILIS, L. (BRITTLE W.) Leaves lanceolate, taper-pointed, smooth, 

 glaucous beneath (slightly silky when young), serrate with inflexed teeth ; stipules 

 half-heart-shaped; pods tapering-conical. Var. DEcfpiENS has dark brown 

 buds, and the lowest leaves on the branches broadly obovate, very obtuse. 

 (S. decipiens, Hojfm.) Var. RUSSELLIANA has the leaves long and bright, 

 strongly and very sharply serrate ; the younger ones and upper branches of 

 the annual shoots silky-downy towards autumn ; stipules large and taper- 

 pointed. (S. Rnsselliana, Smith.) Var. VRIDIS, has long and acute flexuous 

 erect catkins, tough pendulous branchlets, and firmer bright-green leaves. .(S. 

 viridis, Fries.) A tall and handsome tree, with smooth polished branches; 

 cultivated for basket-work. (Adv. from Eu.) 



15. S. ALBA, L. (WHITE W.) Leaves lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 

 pointed, toothed, clothed more or less with white and silky hairs, especially beneath ; 

 stipules lanceolate ; stigmas nearly sessile, thick and recurved. Var. VITELLINA 

 has yellow branches ; leaves shorter and broader. (S. vitellina, Smith fr Borrer.) 

 Var. c^ERtiLEA has the leaves nearly smooth at maturity, greenish or brown- 

 ish, and greatly resembles the preceding species. (S. cserulea, Smith.) A 

 familiar tree, of rapid growth, attaining a height of 50 - 80. (Adv. from Eu.) 



16. S. BABYLONICA, Tourn. (WEEPING WILLOW), belongs to this section, 

 and is planted for ornament. Only the fertile plant is known in the United 

 States. There is also a remarkable form of it with curled or annular leaves 

 (S. annularis, Forbes), well known in gardens as the RING-LEAVED or HOOP 

 WILLOW. 



* * * Stamens 2 : ovary stalked, mostly silky or downy ; the scale narrow. 



17. S. longifblia, Muhl. (LONG-LEAVED W.) Leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 very long, tapering at each end, nearly sessile, remotely denticulate with pro- 

 jecting teeth, clothed with gray hairs when young ; stipules small, lanceolate, 

 toothed ; gland long, in the sterile flowers sometimes deeply 2 - 3-cleft ; in the 

 fertile longer than the short stalk of the ovary ; stigmas very large, sessile. 

 River-banks, rooting extensively in sand or gravel : common, especially west- 

 ward. Varying greatly, 2 - 20 high. 



5. Catkins pedunded, borne on the lateral (or sometimes the terminal) leafy branches 

 of the season, appearing in June : stipules deciduous or none : scales persistent. 

 Small shrubs, mostly with underground spreading stems, sending up short erect or 

 prostrate branches. 



* Upright (l-3 high), not alpine: pod long-stalked : stamens 2. 



18. S. myrtilloides, L. (MYRTLE W.) Very glabrous, except the 

 scales of the catkin; leaves elliptical, oblong, or linear-oblong, entire (l'-2' 

 long) reticulated, pale or glaucous beneath, somewhat coriaceous ; catkins ob- 



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