390 



THE NATURE BOOK 



in the spring time, they are brittle as 

 glass. The fracture is a clean one, leaving 

 no jagged edges. This procedure serves, 

 perhaps, to put a check upon over-luxuri- 

 ance. From this habit the tree derives 

 its name. The twigs of the White Willow 

 do not so ' ' crack." The White Willow is so 

 named because of the white, silky hairs 

 which are found, not only upon the leaves, 

 but also, to some extent, upon the buds 



Sr'Sl 



TRUNK AND BARK OF ^HITE WILLOW. 



and twigs. The twigs of the Crack 

 Willow are green or yellow, and the buds 

 ruddy or brown ; both are smooth. 



THE WEEPINXx WILLOW 



The Weeping Willow (otherwise the 

 Babylonian Willow) conforms most closely 

 to the Crack Willow ; but its twigs do not 

 crack. These hang down pendulous in 

 long festoons, which sweep the ground or 

 dip into the water beneath. The leaves 

 are narrow, dark green, and without hairs 

 above, and lighter, bluish green below. 



THE BAY-LEAVED WILLOW AND THE 

 ALMOND-LEAVED WILLOW 



These may be found as trees, but their 

 habit generally is shrubby. They are 

 sufficiently characterised by their name, 

 since their leaves resemble in shape those 

 of the shrubs specified ; they have also 

 faintly the odour of the laurel and the 

 almond respectively. Those of the Bay- 

 leaved Willow are broad, and about two 

 and a half times as long 

 as they are broad. They , 



are rounded at the base, 

 and suddenly pointed at 

 the tip ; their texture 

 is almost that of a holly 

 leaf, and of a like deep, 

 brilliant green above, but 

 jmler below. When young 

 the upper surface is 

 slightly stick}-. The\' 

 ha\'e several small glands 

 on the leaf stalk. Stip- 

 ules, when present at 

 the base of the stalk, 

 are narrow. The leaves 

 of the Almond - leaved 

 Willow are also broad, 

 but about four times as 

 long as they are broad. 

 They are bluntly pointed 

 at the base, sharply at 

 the apex, rather less 

 tough, and not of quite 

 so brilliant a green as 

 those of the Bay-leaved 

 Willow. Stipules, when 

 present, are broad. The 

 leaves in both instances 

 are toothed. If an indi- 

 \' i d u a 1 pollen - bearing 

 flower of the Almond- 

 leaved Willow be exam- 

 ined under a magni- 

 fying glass it will be 

 found to possess three 

 stamens. The Bay-leaved 

 Willow flower has usually 

 five stamens. All the 

 other Willow flowers 

 have two onl}', with the 

 single exception of that 

 of the Purple Osier, 

 which has its two sta- winter twig and 

 mens merged into one. resting bud 



" (ENLARGED) OF 



WHITE WILLOW. 



Henry 



one. 

 Irving. 



