THE WILLOWS 



415 



as the Herbaceous Willow may be met 

 with on more southern mountains, but 

 above the 2.000 feet line. It has its stems 

 wholly underground, whilst its shoots rise 



or fifteen inches. Its twigs are usually 

 reddish, or purple-brown in colour. Buds 

 and slioots are silky. The leaves also are 

 covered with silky hairs, though the 



THE CREEPING Oti SILKY WILLOW. 

 It barely overtops the Grass. 



but an inch or so. The dwarf Willow 

 most likely to be found south of the 

 Tweed, and at a moderate elevation, is 

 the Creeping, or the Silky, Willow. It 

 may be looked for upon moorland where 

 the heather grows. It prefers a sandy 

 soil. In height it grows from six to twelve, 



upper surface is sometimes without these. 

 In size and shape they are very variable, 

 from half an inch to an inch long, narrow, 

 or more rounded. The margins are very 

 minutely serrated. The flower catkins 

 appear with the leaves. The seeding 

 catkins may be present till late summer. 



Henry Irving. 



