416 Salicinee—Salix. 
Orpen CIX—SALICINEZ. 
Deciduous trees or shrubs with simple alternate stipulate 
leaves and dicecious flowers usually preceding the leaves and 
destitute of a distinct perianth. Both male and female flowers 
are disposed in deciduous catkins and solitary at the base of 
the bracts. Stamens 1 to indefinite. Fruit a 1-celled many- 
seeded capsule dehiscing in two revolute valves. Seeds 
minute, furnished with a tuft of silky hairs at one end. There 
are two genera and about 200 species, chiefly in the north 
temperate and arctic zones, and unrepresented in Australasia. 
1. SALIX. 
In this genus the leaves are either narrow or, if broad, small. 
Catkins usually erect, with entire scales. About 160 to 180 
species are known, but many of them are so similar in aspect 
that they are difficult to determine from descriptions. And then 
the varieties either natural or hybrid are so numerous as 
to render it impossible to classify them satisfactorily. The 
ancient Latin name, said to be of Celtic origin. 
The following are a few of the more desirable ornamental 
species, including some of the commoner indigenous ones. 
1. S. fragilis. Crack Willow.—A large indigenous tree 60 
to 90 feet high. Leaves lanceolate, glandular-serrate, with a 
long acuminate point. Petiole short, not glandular; catkins 
on short leafy shoots, rather long and slender, appearing with 
the leaves. Stamens 2. Capsule distinctly pedicellate. S. 
Russellicona, the Bedford Willow, differs only in having linear- 
lanceolate leaves and more spreading branches. 
2. S. alba. White Willow.—This is also a large tree and 
equally common with the last. It has very long linear- 
lanceolate glandular serrate acuminate leaves clothed with 
silky hairs on both sides when young. Stamens 2. Capsule 
glabrous, almost, or quite sessile. There are three varieties, 
distinguished as follows :—dlba proper, young twigs olive green, 
mature leaves silky on both sides; caridea, adult leaves 
glabrous and glaucous, beneath ; vitellina, Golden Osier or 
Willow, young twigs bright yellow. 
3. 8S. Coprea. Common Sallow, Goat Willow, or Palm.—This 
is an extremely variable species and the commonest of the genus 
