222 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
England, Scotland, Ireland. Tree or shrub. Spring. 
The typical form (var. «) of this, which is doubtless a hybrid 
between §. purpurea and S§. viminalis, is a shrub or small tree, gene- 
rally not more than 6 feet high, with long upright smooth purplish 
branches. Leaves resembling those of the common osier in shape, 
but differing in being bright green and at length glabrous on both 
sides. Barren catkins 1 to 1} inch long, without leaves at the base, 
put with a few pilose bracts. Female catkins $ to 1 inch long, with 
several leaves at the base; the scales on both catkins with a black 
apex, as in S. purpurea. Stamens with the filaments united at the 
base, but free for the greater part of their length. Anthers at length 
dull lead-coloured. Ovary more attenuated upwards than in 8. pur- 
purea, with a much longer style, and with longer, narrower, and more 
recurved stigmas. 
Var. 8 differs in its much broader leaves, which are 2 to 4 inches 
long by $ to 1 inch broad. The female catkins are very like those 
of 8. purpurea, but have a longer style and longer stigmas, but the 
leaves are much broader and less attenuated towards the base, and 
glossy (not opaque) above ; they are also more pubescent when young. 
The male plant of var. 6 is unknown, but Smith found 1 or 2 male 
flowers at the base of the fertile catkins, and these had the filaments 
united nearly to the apex, as in S. purpurea. 
Var. y is a small slender tree or large shrub, with long tough smooth 
polished pale yellow twigs. Leaves similar in shape to those of S. 
purpurea, but longer and narrower. Male catkins similar to those of 
S. purpurea, but rather larger. Female catkins with the ovary more 
conical and terminated by a conspicuous style and long stigmas closely 
resembling those of S. rubra, vars. « and 8. Catkin-scales with a 
black apex, as in S. purpurea. 
S. Helix is a very puzzling plant, unless Mr. Borrer be correct in 
supposing that Smith has taken a narrow-leaved male plant of S. 
purpurea, and a female of S. rubra, var. Forbyana, and described the 
two as the male and female of his S. Helix. If this be not so we 
must regard it as one of the series of hybrids between 5. purpurea and 
S, viminalis, but approaching closely to 8. purpurea, with which it 
agrees in the male catkins; the female catkins are scarcely distin- 
guishable from those of S. rubra, vars. « and /. 
Var. a, Green-leaved Osier. Var. 8, Fine Basket Oster. 
Var. y, Rose Willow. 
French, Saule monadelphe. German, Rothe Weide. 
This species of willow is valuable in cultivation as an osier for bands, crates, basket- 
work or wicker-work, and even small hoops. 
In the bark of this willow is found a larger quantity of salicin, the peculiar active 
principle of the genus, than in any other species. At one time this substance was 
largely used in medicine before the employment of quinine. It forms a tolerable 
