WILLOW FAMILY. 329 



The most of the Osier used in this country is imported ; the labor required 

 in peeling the twigs will probably prevent that raised in this country 

 from successfully competing with the foreign article. 



** Aments produced with the leaves at the summit of short lateral leafy 

 branches, peduncled, long and loose : branches brittle at base. 



f Ovary sessile, smooth : stamens 2. 



2. S. al'ba, L. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, 

 acuminate, denticulate, silky glaucous 

 beneath ; stipules lanceolate ; styles short 

 WHITE SALIX. White Willow. 



Stem 30-60 feet high, much branched : branches 

 rather erect, with a pale greenish-yellow bark. 

 Leaves 2-4 inches long, the lower teeth glandular ; 

 petioles 1-2 lines in length. Pistillate aments 2-3 

 inches long, greenish. 



About houses, &c. Native of Europe. Fl. April. 



229 



Obs. The White Willow, if I mistake not, is the one which is pre- 

 ferred, and cultivated, by the manufacturers of Gun Powder, for the 

 purpose of making charcoal. It was introJuccd as a shade tree about 

 our old settlements, but is now generally superseded by the Weeping 

 Willow. It is however partly naturalized in some localities. The var. 

 vitellina, Yellow Willow or Golden Osier, has orange-yellow branches 

 and rather shorter and broader leaves ; it is often seen, as a shade tree, 

 and partly naturalized. 



ff Ovary stalked, smooth : stamens 2-6. 



3. S. fra'gilis, var. Russelliana, Carey. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, 

 serrate-dentate with the teeth incurved, somewhat glaucous beneath, and 

 slightly silky while young ; stipules half heart-shaped ; styles con- 

 spicuous. 



Brittle Salix. Bedford Willow. 



Stem 30-50 feet high ; branches rather erect with a greenish-brown smooth bark, some- 

 what pubescent when young, remarkably brittle at base. Leaves 2-4 inches long, acute 

 at each end, finally smooth ; petioles 2-6 lines in length, glandular and somewhat pubes- 

 cent. Pistillate aments 2-2% inches long. Pods tawny-green. 



Low grounds. Native of England. Fl. May. 



Obs. This is one of the species cultivated for basket work. 



4. S. BABYLO'NICA, L. Young branches very slender, flaccid and pendu- 

 lous ; leaves linear-lanceolate, acuminate, sharply serrulate or nearly 

 entire ; stipules minute, ovate, glandular-dentate ; aments recurved. 

 BABYLONIAN SALIX. Weeping Willow. Drooping Willow. 



FIG. 228. Staminate flower of the White Willow (Salix alba) , consisting of two stamens 

 with a gland at the base, borne on a scale of the ament. 229. A pistillate flower, an 

 ovary with a gland upon a scale of the ament. 



