456 AMENTACE^. [Salix. 



*** Alb^, Borr. 



" Trees of considerable elevation, having lanceolate serrated leaves, with long silky 

 hairs beneath, especially in a young state, which gives to the foliage a light or 

 whitish hue : the serratures glandular. Catkins lax : germens glabrous." — 

 Br. Fl. 3id. ed. 



3. S. alba, L. Common White Willow. " Leaves elliptical- 

 lanceolate regularly glanduloso-serrate acute when young more or 

 less silky beneath often so above, ovaries ovato- acuminate nearly 

 sessile glabrous, stigmas nearly sessile short recurved bifid, scales 

 short pubescent at the margin much shorter than the stamens 

 and about the length of the ovary." — Br. Fl. p. 385. E. B. t. 

 2430. 



/3. vitellina. " Branches brigbt yellow, leaves shorter and broader." — Bab. Man 

 p. 288. S. vitellina, Auct. Anglican. E. B. 1389. 



In moist woods, meadows, and along rivers and streams ; frequent, but often 

 planted. Fl. May. Tj . 



$ . In the wet thicket on the skirls of Whilefield wood, appearing wild. 



9 • In a wood near Westridge, growing in a little swampy pool, appearing 

 also truly wild. 



/3. $ . Between Ryde and Newchurch, in the hedge a little beyond Ashey farm, 

 a single tree, apparently wild, Dr. Bell-Salier, 1839!!! — also by the stream-side 

 at Langbvidge, close to Newchurch, but apparently planted. By a pond close to 

 a farm at Yaverland, 1840. 



Leaves alternate, narrow-lanceolate, tapering at both ends, 3 or 4 inches long, 

 regularly and finely serrated, the serratures glandular, gray-green above, whitish 

 or somewhat glaucous beneath, clothed on both sides, but most so on the under 

 side, with close-pressed silky hairs,* of great fineness and brilliancy, shining with 

 a silvery lustre. Capsules ovate, brownish yellow, smooth. Seeds small, oblong, 

 greenish and furrowed. 



This species is the largest of the British willows, attaining a greater diameter 

 of trunk than any other, and is one of the vei^y few valuable for its wood, which, 

 though soft, is much used for milk-pails and articles of turnery. 



**** FvsoM,BoiT. 



" Small shrubs, with generally procumbent stems and leaves, between elliptical and 

 lanceolate, mostly silky beneath, nearly entire. Catkins ovate or cylindri- 

 cal. Germerts silhj, stalked." — Br. Fl. 3rd. ed. 



4. S.fusca, L. Dwarf Silky Willow. "Leaves elHptical or 

 elliptic-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate broadest about the middle 

 acute entire or with minute glandular serratures somewhat downy 

 glaucous and generally very silky beneath, ovaries upon a long 

 stalk lanceolate very silky, stigmas bifid." — Br. Fl. p. 388'. E. 

 B. t. 1960. 



j3. ascendens. Stems recumbent, leaves elliptical. S. ascendens, E. B. t. 1962.-t- 



* Varieties occur, though not noticed in this island, in which the pubescence 

 is much less copious or nearly wanting. 



t Other forms of the variable little shrub doubtless occur here, but I am not 

 yet prepared to state them. Phytol. iii. p. 840. 



