WILLOW FAMILY 



the summer. On some species, however, they are small, in- 

 conspicuous, and fugacious. 



The character of the inflorescence is the same in every 

 species. It is dioecious, that is, the stamens and pistils are 

 separate and borne on different trees. This makes tfie fam- 

 ily difficult to classify, for it is necessary to study two trees 

 in order to determine one species, and the two trees are not 

 always at hand. Furthermore, the species readily hybridize, 

 and also quickly respond to environment, so that only an ex- 

 pert is competent to decide a question with regard to species 

 among willows. 



The staminate flowers are without either calyx or corolla ; 

 they consist simply of stamens, in number varying from two 

 to ten, accompanied by a nectariferous gland and inserted on 

 the base of a scale which is itself borne 

 on the rachis of a drooping raceme 

 called a catkin, or anient. This scale is 

 oval and entire and very hairy. The 

 anthers are rose colored in the bud but 

 orange or purple after the flower opens, 

 they are two-celled and the cells open 

 longitudinally. The filaments are thread- 

 like, usually pale yellow, often hairy. 

 The pistillate flowers are also without calyx or corolla ; 

 and consist of a single ovary accompanied by a small flat 

 gland and niserted on the base of a scale which is likewise 

 borne on the rachis of a catkin. This ovary is one-celled, 

 the style two-Iobed, and the ovules numerous. The fruit is a 

 one-celled, two-valved, cylindrical, beaked capsule, contain- 

 ing many minute seeds which are furnished with long, silky, 

 white hairs. The catkins appear before or with the leaves. 

 Although catkin and ament are interchangeable words, cat- 

 kin seems most appropriate for the flowers of the willow be- 

 cause of tJieir furry appearance when half developed. 



The genus Salix is admirably fitted to go forth and in- 

 habit the earth, for it is tolerant of all soils and asks only 

 water. It creeps nearer to the North Pole than , any other 



394 



A Staminate and a Pistillate 

 Flower of a Willow. 



