292 DIOECIA— DIANDRIA. Salix. 



Dr. Hooker unites Sa. cinerea, and Sa. aquatica into one spe- 

 cies. Fl. Scotica. But see his Br. Fl. p. 424 — 5. 



One of the most common of all our willows. The bark has 

 been made into coarse paper, and pasteboard ; the wood excellent 

 for fuel, also for stakes, and hurdles, and for waggon staves. 



S. cciprea.^ Great Round-leaved S. Stem erect. 

 Leaves roundish, egg-shaped, pointed, saw-toothed, 

 waved ; pale and downy beneath. Stipulas somewhat 

 crescent-shaped. Catkins thick and oval. Germen 

 stalked, egg-shaped, silky. Stigmas nearly stalkless, 

 undivided. Capsules swelling. E. B. 1488. 

 Woods, hedges. 

 Tree. -April. 



Twigs downy. Ls. variable in shape, alternate, foot-stalked, 

 upper surface somewhat bare, and smooth. Stamens yellow. 

 Seed-vessels foot-stalked, oval, bellying out at their base, shaggy. 

 Stip. only to the uppermost leaves. 



Its showy, copious, yellow blossoms make a cheerful appearance 

 in early spring. Its bark bitter, and astringent ; has been recom- 

 mended as a substitute for the Peruvian bark. Its wood useful 

 for hurdles. Its bark may be used for tanning, and for dying 

 linen yarn black. The wood tough, makes good charcoal for 

 gun-powder, and for crayons. The catkins early food for bees. 

 Discrim. Easily known by its large, broad, roundish leaves, 

 waved at their edges, and clothed beneath with a thick, white, 

 cottony down. Catkins very thick, and blunt. Scales of the 

 flower-buds silvery before expansion. Succeeds best in a dry 

 soil. 



The catkins vulgarly called goslings, from their similarity of 

 colour, and appearance, about the time when goslings are hatched : 

 covered with blossoms before the leaves appear. 



Wood used for cutting-boards and whetting -boards of shoe- 

 makers, to smooth their knives upon. Lightfoot. 



S. acuminata f * Long-leaved S. Stem erect. Leaves 

 spear-shaped-oblong, pointed, wavy, finely toothed ; 

 glaucous and downy beneath. Stipulas half-egg- 

 shaped ; then kidney-shaped. Catkins cylindrical. 

 Germen stalked, egg-shaped, hairy. Style as long as 

 the undivided stigmas. E. B. 1434. S. caprea lati- 

 folia. G. E. 1390. leaves. 



' Literally goat's (willow,) from supposition of goats browsing on it. 



* " Sibth. seems to include under this species, the Salix cinerea, and Sal. 

 aquatica of the Eng. FL, both very common about Oxford. I have not yet 

 met with the true Salix acuminata of S/ft. FZ. Bri^. Oct. 1830." Bx. S. acu- 

 minita var. rug6sa. Sm. Common about the Cherwell. Christchurch 

 Meadow. Bx. With smaller, more rugged leaves. Sm. 



