204 DIOECIA— TRIANDRIA. Ruscus. 



nearly naked above ; white and downy beneath. Sti- 

 pulas half-heart-shaped, stalked, very large. Nectary 

 cylindrical. Germen egg-shaped, nearly stalkless, as 

 well as the linear, undivided stigmas. E. B. 1214. 



Osier-beds. Pn. Fl. 

 Shrub. Blarch. 



Shrub, with upright, downy, reddish, tall, but brittle twigs. Ls. 

 about a span, almost upright.) 



S. alba. Common White W. Leaves elliptic-spear- 

 shaped, pointed, saw-toothed, silky on both sides ; the 

 lowest serratures glandular. Stamens hairy. Germen 

 smooth, almost stalkless. Stigmas deeply cloven. 

 Scales rounded. E. B. 2430. Salix. G. E. 1389. 



Moist woods, low pastures, meadows. 



Tree. May ; often again in July. Sm. 



Ls. alternate, with short foot-stalks, taper-pointed, acutely and 



regularly, finely saw-toothed. Catk. lengthened out, slender. 



Scales elliptically spear-shaped, brown, downy. Stamens yellow, 



a little longer than the scales. 



When allowed to gi'ow without lopping, becomes a very large 

 and lofty tree ; soon decays, if lopped. The wood is white, agree- 

 able to burn, as not smoking, and affording a regular heat : from 

 its whiteness preferred for making milk-pails, and butter-firkins : 

 used also for flooring, for chests, and boxes. The bark, boiled 

 with water, in a copper vessel, will dye wool or silk of a blood-red ; 

 with the addition of a little alum, of a cinnamon colour. The 

 bark recommended in the cure of agues by the Rev. Mr. Stone, 

 Phil. Tratis. v. 53. p. 195. a drachm of the powdered bark, given 

 every four hours, between the fits. The bark of the Sa. triandra, 

 Sa. fragilis, and Sa. caprea, have the same properties. See 

 White's Observations, Sfc. on the Broad-leaved Willow, (^Sa. caprea,) 

 Bath, 1798. This species one of" the best in the genus for tanning : 

 of very rapid growtli : a good tree to plant in avenues, for its 

 agreeable shade, and the beautiful, silvery appearance of the 

 leaves. The inner bark has afforded a miserable substitute for 

 bread. 



DIOECIA TRIANDRIA. 



RUSCUS. Butcher's-broom.' 

 R. aculedtus. Common B. Leaves egg-shaped, with 

 very sharp-pointed thorns, flowering on the upper side 

 without a leaflet. E. B. 560. Riiscus. G. E. 907. 



Hedges, woods. Between Caversham and Mapledurham. Sb. 



' From its use. 



