THE WILLOWS 31 



twenty feet or more. The latter is probably a 

 hybrid. 



The sub-section Helice is distinguished by 

 "equitant" folding of the leaves— each leaf being 

 doubled longitudinally over the next, as if astride it 

 — by purple anthers, which become black, and by 

 united stamens, to which it owes the name Synandrse. 

 It includes the Purple Osier (S. purpu'rea L.) the 

 Red Osier {S. ru'bra Huds.), and the Rose Willow 

 (S. He'lix L.). The dark-coloured bark of the tough, 

 but slender and drooping boughs of the first of these 

 is well known ; whilst the last-named has long been 

 recognised by botanists from its crowded tufts of 

 leaves, like green roses, caused by the punctures of 

 a gall-fly. 



The sub-section Vi'raen, with two distinct fila- 

 ments, yellow anthers, a longish style, and a silky 

 under-surface to the leaves, includes the Common 

 Osier (*Si. vimina'lis L.) and other closely related 

 forms. The leaves on the long, slender, wand-like 

 branches of the Osier are sometimes as much as ten 

 inches long, and have their margins rolled back and 

 slightly wavy. The catkins, appearing long before the 

 foliage, generally in April, form much of the golden 

 " palm "-boughs of Easter. 



The only remaining forms of any considerable size 

 or importance, however, are the Sallow (S. cinerea L.) 

 and the Goat Willow {S. Oaprea L.), belonging to the 

 series Caprece. These agree in having elliptical, 

 wrinkled, dark green leaves, more or less covered 

 with short, curling hairs, and having two kidney-shaped 

 stipules, whilst the style is very short or absent, and 



