28 FAMILIAR TREES 



Amonsr the more obvious distinctions of the three 

 main sections are the following : The species belong- 

 ing to Vitisalix, which include the large trees of the 

 group, produce their leaves and flowers simultaneously, 

 the flower-stalks bearing fully developed leaves, and 

 the catkin-scales being of a uniform, generally pale 

 colour. The filaments of the stamens are perfectly 

 free from one another, and are hairy on the lower 

 part, while the capsules are free from hairs ; and the 

 leaves are " convolute " — i.e. rolled together in the 

 bud, like a scroll of paper, with one free edge. Those 

 belonging to Caprisalix — shrubs and small trees, 

 among which are most kinds of Osier — have no stalk 

 to the catkin in the flowering stage, and have only 

 small leaf-like bracts, or none at all, at the base of the 

 catkin. The catkin-scales are generally discoloured 

 at their tips, and the male flowers have but two 

 stamens each. In the fruiting stage the catkin some- 

 times becomes stalked, the stalk falling off with the 

 catkin, as is also generally the case in the previous 

 section. It is, perhaps, necessary to caution the 

 tyro against confusing the catkin, which is made 

 up of many flowers, with a single flower. Finally, 

 the diminutive species belonging to the Ghamelyx — 

 the " Ground " Willows, as the name signifies — also 

 have only two stamens ; but their catkins are on 

 long, leafy, terminal or sub-terminal shoots, which do 

 not fi)ll with the catkins. 



The first sub-section of Vitisalix — viz. Lycus — 

 having from four to twelve, but generally five, stamens, 

 includes the Bay-leaved Willow {S. pentandra L.) 

 and the possible hybrid, the Shrewsbury 8. cuspida'ta 



