WILLOW. 415 



Description. — This tree attains the height of twenty-five to 

 thirty feet, having a straight trunk, covered with cinereous 

 cracked bark ; the branches numerous, erectly spreading, covered 

 with a grey, reddish, or brownish green bark ; the inner bark 

 green. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic-lanceolate, 

 acuminate, shining and pubescent above, white and silky be- 

 neath, acutely serrated, the lower serratures glandulose. The 

 male flowers * are disposed in pedunculate, cylindrical, obtuse 

 catkins, from an inch and a-half to two inches' in length, sub- 

 tended by a few bracteae, and composed of imbricated, oblong 

 hirsute scales, tinged with brown and crimson ; each scale 

 including two stamens, which are furnished with an obcordate, 

 nectariferous gland in front, and an oblong one behind. The 

 female flowers constitute slender, cylindrical catkins, on long 

 peduncles, and consist of imbricated, oblong scales, each fur- 

 nished with a roundish, ovate, nectariferous gland, and a gla- 

 brous germen, supporting a very short bifid style, terminated 

 by four obtuse stigmas. The capsule is glabrous, ovate-oblong, 

 ventricose at the base, nearly sessile, with one cell, opening at 

 the summit with two valves reflexed outwards, containing a 

 single seed, crowned with a white shining tuft. Plate 48, fig. 

 1, («) male catkin; (b) single flower with its scale magnified; 

 (c) female catkin ; (d) pistil, magnified ; (e) capsule, opening 

 at maturity ; (f) seed. 



This species of Willow is frequent in moist woods, hedge- 

 rows, pastures, and by river sides, flowering in April and 

 May. 



The name of the genus is compodnded of the Celtic words 

 sal, near, lis, the water. It was called irtu in Greek, from isvai, 

 to be of quick growth. It is supposed to be the ma Asvxn of 

 Theophrastus. The Welsh name for Willow is gwilou. 



The Salices are commonly divided into Willows, Osiers, and 

 Sallows. We shall not attempt to characterize them, as the 

 genus is very extensive and difficult. The species most valu- 

 able for medicinal use, are S. Russelliana, alba, vitellina, 

 caprea, pentandra, triandra, amygdalina, and purpurea f. 



* Rarely a few female flowers are found at the base of the catkins, 

 f For the specific characters of these and the other indigenous species of 

 Willow, consult " Hooker's British Flora." 



