474 THE CATKIW PAMILT. 



small, entire scales. Stamens in the males 2, rarely 3, 5, or even more, or 

 united into one, with slender filaments and small anthers, and a gland-like 

 scale either between the stamens and the axis, or more rarely between the 

 stamens and the catkin-scale, or two scales, one on each side, but no 

 perianth. Female flowers solitary under each scale, with a gland-like inner 

 scale between the ovai-y and the axis. Ovary conical, sessile or stalked, 

 one-celled, with several ovules inserted on 2 short parietal placentas. Style 

 forked, each lobe entire or shortly 2-lobed. Fruit a conical capsule, open- 

 ing in 2 valves. Seeds several, minute, with a tuft of long, white, silky 

 hairs. 



A vast genus, widely spread over the world, but particularly abundant in 

 the northern hemisphere, from the tropics to the Arctic zone, ascending 

 high upon alpine summits, and in low countries chiefly inhabiting wet or 

 sandy situations. The great variations in the shape of the leaves of many 

 species, and the difficulty of matching the male and female specimens, or 

 the young and old leaves of those species which flower before the leaves are 

 out, have produced a multiphcation of supposed species, and a confusion in 

 tlieir distinction, beyond all precedent. The following fifteen are all that 

 appear to be truly distinct among the British ones; at the same time, 

 reliable observations are wanting on the degree of variation of particular 

 characters, especially amongst the mountain species, and it is certain that 

 apparently intermediate forms between veiy dissimilar species are not un- 

 frequent in herbaria. These are in some cases taken from trees or shrubs 

 much altered by ctiltivation, in others they may be, as asserted by several 

 recent observers, natiu'al hybrids ; in neither case can they be considered as 

 botanical species. 



Male catkins sessile. Females sessile or on very short peduncles, 

 with or without leafy bracts. 

 Stamen 1 under each scale, entire or forked. Leaves narrow, 



glabrous or whitish underneath. Anthers usually purple . 5. Purple W. 

 Stamens 2, distinct. Anthers usually yellow. 

 Leaves very silky and white, at least underneath. 



Stems erect, twiggy. Leaves long, lanceolate or linear . . 6. Osier W, 

 Stems creeping underground. Leaves small, ovate, oblong 



or lanceolate 10. Creeping TV. 



Leaves glabrous, downy or cottony. 



Leaves wrinkled, usually with a short, crisp or cottony 

 down, especially underneath. Capsules pedicellate. 

 Male catkins very silky, oblong. Capsules 3 to 4 lines 



long. Leaves ovate or oblong 7. Sallow W. 



Male catkins cyUndrical, rather silky. Capsules 2 to 3 



lines long. Leaves mostly obovate 8. Unund-eared TV. 



Leaves not wrinkled, glabrous or downy when young. Cat- 

 kins rather slender. Capsules pedicellate 9. Tea-leaved W. 



Leaves not wrinkled, downy or woolly, quite entire. Cat- 

 kins dense and very silky-hairy. Capsules sessile. 

 Catkins silky, white. Capsules about 2 lines long . . . 11. Downy W. 

 Catkins golden-yellow. Capsules about 3 lines long . . 12. Woolly W. 

 Mtile and female catkins on short, leafy shoots. 

 Trees or tall shrubs. 

 Stamens about 5. Leaves dark-green and shining .... 1. Bay W. 

 Stamens 3. Leaves green above, white underneath .... 4. Almond W. 

 Stamens 2. 

 Leaves ashy-grey or silky-white. Capsules nearly sessile . 3. Common W. 

 Leaves green or glabrous. Capsules pedicellate ... 2. Crack W. 

 Lorn, spreading or prostrate, or creeping shrubs. 

 Catkins at the end of short, leafy shoots, without buds. 

 Stems procumbent, ascending, or forming low bushes. 

 Leaves shghtly toothed. Male catkins nearly sessile. Cap- 

 sules pedicellate 9. Tea-leaved W. 



