430 



THE SALICALES 



C, E). The distinguishing feature of this kind of flower cluster 

 is seen in the scale or bract that protects each flower (Fig. 297, 



D, F). The aments and also the leaves are concealed in buds 

 that are peculiar in that they are protected by a boat-shaped 

 scale (Fig. 297, A). These plants flower very early in the spring 

 and as the ament emerges from the bud the overlapping bracts 

 with their hairy coats form the "pussy willow" ' stage of the ' 



Fig. 297. Flowers and seed of the willow {Splix): A, winter appearance 

 of a flowering twig, each boat-shaped scale concealing an ament. B, pussy 

 willow stage of flowering, the aments emerging from the scales and exposing 

 the hairy bracts that conceal the flowers. C, ament of pistillate flowers in 

 full bloom. D, pistillate flower, consisting of a compound pistil of two car- 

 pels — b, bract; n, nectar gland. £, ament of staminate flowers. F, stam- 

 inate flower of two stamens. G, ament of mature pistils which are opening 

 to discharge the seeds. H-I, successive stages in the opening of the pistil. 

 /, a seed with circle of hairs at base forming a parachute for dissemination. 



inflorescence (Fig. 297, B). Soon the bracts spread apart, ex- 

 posing the flowers which are nearly as primitive as the simplest 

 of the monocotyledon's, being without perianth, imperfect and 

 usually the two kinds of sporophylls are arranged on different 

 plants. The pistil is compound and composed of two carpels, 

 each of which contains numerous ovules, so that the pistillate 



