THE WILLOWS OF OHIO. 281 



nate catkins borne with the leaves; easily recognizable by their 

 large diameter and fine appearance ; scales large, conspicuous, cre- 

 nate or dentate, stamens mostly 3-5, filaments pubescent at the 

 base. Carpellate catkins also large, dense, 5-8 cm. long in fruit, 

 long persistent, scales obovate, slightly pubescent, pedicel near- 

 ly half as long as the capsule, stigmas large thick, deeply notched, 

 style short, capsule narrowly cylindric, about 6 mm. long. 



Salix lucida is a northern plant occuring in the northern 

 third of the state but not extending to Columbus. 



Salix lucida hybridises with Salix alba and S. fragilis and 

 when all three come together in one plant it creates very great 

 confusion in a group already very difficult to handle. Though 

 hybrids are mostly individual cases and irreducible to any general 

 type, it may be said that hybrids between 5. lucida and one of the 

 fragiles are likely to have some of the following characteristics. 

 Nearly always the leaves are dull instead of glossy, sometimes 

 they are pubescent like 5. alba. They are likely to retain some- 

 what of the prominently glandular character of 5. lucida. Though 

 they may be almost typical of one of the other species in other 

 respects, the) 7 are almost certain to have the large reddish brown 

 winter buds of 5. lucida. The stamens are oftenest two but the 

 catkins are likely to be short and thick as in 5. hicida and dentate 

 scales are frequent. 



Salix pentandra L. European Shining Willow. 



Salix pentandra, the European species corresponding to cur 

 Salix lucida, has been detected as an e cape in two places in the 

 state.* It is not infrequently cultivated as a basket willow and 

 may be met with anywhere in cultivation. 



It is most difficult to distinguish frcm S. lucida and in seme 



1 3 of the native species they cannot be told apart with cer- 

 tainty. Salix pentandra, however, never has the long attenuate 

 leaf tips common in S. lucida, not even on watershoots. Its 

 leaves are rather thinner and not quite so glossy as those of 5. 

 lucida. It dees net grow so rank and dees not succeed well in 

 this climate. The osier growers around Columbus complain that 

 it winter-kills. 



I should not advi e a beginner in Salicology to try to dis- 

 tingui -h the two form: in the range of Salix lucida but any form 

 outside the range, with the less acuminate leaves of 5. pentandra, 

 may be suspected. 



* Sec O. Nat. 4:12— Nov. 1903. 



Plate III. Salix lucida. 



Large leaf from rarik growth; smaller pair from ordinary twigs; the 

 short, broad, blunt one from the base of a branch; Sowers and fruit typical ; 

 natural size; capsule enlarged three times. 



