802 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS 



SALIX 



•uariegidto ■with yellow. Among the varie- 

 ties which have the leaves more or less 

 deeply incised or lobed may be mentioned, 

 asplenifoUa, i/ncisa, and qwercifoUa; 



macrophylla has leaves larger than in the 

 typical plant ; and the ' weeping ' or droop- 

 ing forms are known as pendula. 

 Culture dc. as above. 



CIX. SALICINEiE— Willow and Poplar Order 



An order of trees or shrubs with alternate, entire, serrulate, toothed or rarely 

 lobed, deciduous, feather-veined leaves ; stipules variable. Mowers dioecious 

 {i.e. male and female borne on separate plants), usually appearing before the 

 leaves, and having no distinct perianth. Both male and female flowers are 

 arranged in deciduous catkins, and solitary at the base of the bracts, the male 

 flowers having 2 or more stamens inserted under the disc. Fruit a 1-ceUed, 

 many-seeded capsule, splitting by two revolute valves. 



This order contains only the "Willows and Poplars, most of which grow in 

 the north temperate and Arctic regions. 



SALIX (WrLLOw). — A genus of trees 



and shrubs, sometimes with very dwarf 

 subterraneous trunks and branches creep- 

 ing along the surface of the ground. 

 Leaves often narrow or small, entire or 

 serrulate, feather- veined. Flower catkins 

 usually erect with entire scales. Stamens 

 2 or 3, or more in a few species. 



Culture and Propagation. — The Wil- 

 lows are beautiful and graceful plants for 

 the garden when judiciously planted, so 

 as not to interfere with the flower beds. 

 Planted near water — lakes, streams, 

 ponds &o. — they produce a fine effect and 

 flourish better, perhaps, than in any 

 other position. They are not particular 

 as to locality, however, so long as they 

 can strike their roots into damp and 

 rather heavy soils. The dwarf creeping 

 kinds are excellent for rambling over the 

 stones in large rockeries. 



The "Willow is probably one of the 

 easiest of plants to increase by cuttings. 

 Pieces of the young and fairly well 

 ripened stem will root readily at almost 

 any time if just placed in the soil. When 

 used as stakes for other plants, care 

 ought to be taken that the bark should be 

 peeled away from the portion that enters 

 the soil or pot, as otherwise it will surely 

 root if in a green state. The Weeping 

 WiUows are grafted or budded on stand- 

 ards of the common varieties. The bushy 

 or creeping Willows like herhacea, reticu- 

 lata, Myrsi/nites, lanata, aurita, nigri- 

 cans, repens are useful for covering knolls 

 or mounds. They are all natives of the 

 British Islands, and are found among 

 rocks and cliffs, bv streams and rills. 



Similar situations in large gardens would 

 be the most natural for them. 



S. alba (WMte Willow). — A large 

 native tree sometimes 80 ft. high, with 

 narrow lance-shaped taper-pointed silky 

 leaves 2-4 in. long. There are a few varie- 

 ties, the best known being ccerulea, with 

 smooth glaucous leaves ; and vitelUna, 

 the ' Golden Osier or Willow,' vrith red- 

 dish or yellowish twigs when young. 

 Pound in marshy ground in a wild state. 



Culture dc. as above. 



S. babylonica {8. penduld). — Weeping 

 Willow. — A beautiful drooping species 

 about 30 ft. high, native of the Levant, 

 having narrow lance-shaped leaves 3-6 

 in. long, serrulate and tapering to a point, 

 often glaucescent beneath. The variety 

 annularis is remarkable for the peculiar 

 ring-like twist of the leaves. 



Culture dc. as above. 



S. Caprea {Common Sallow ; Goat 

 Willow or 'Palm'). — A pretty silvery 

 tree found near streams throughout the 

 British Islands. Leaves variable, elliptic 

 or oblong obovate or lance-shaped acute, 

 with silky hairs on the surface. The 

 flowers are always at their best about 

 Palm Sunday, and are often used in 

 churches as a substitute for the real Pahn. 

 The ' KUmarnook Weeping Willow ' is a 

 variety of this species called pendula, and 

 is remarkable for its decidedly drooping 

 character. 



Culture dc. as above. 



S. daphnoides (8. acutifolia). — Vioht 

 Willow. — A European tree or shrub 



