CHAPTER XXXIX. 



DICOTYLEDONS. 



Topic IV : Dicotyledons witii distinct petals, flowers 

 in catkins, or aments ; often degenerate. 



509. Lesson IV. The willow family (salicacese).— The wil- 

 lows represent a very interesting group of plants in which the 



Fig. 34'- 

 Spray of willow leaves, pistillate and staminate catkins (Salix discolor). 



flowers are greatly reduced. The flowers are crowded on a 

 more or less elongated axis forming a catkin, or anient. The 

 ament is characteristic of several other families also. The 

 willows are dioecious, the male and female catkins being borne 



262 



