284 OHIO STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



Leaves sharply serrate, pubescent at least when young, 



glaucescence bluish. S. alba. 



Leaves distantly blunt-serrate, glabrous, glaucescence 



greenish. 5. fragilis. 



From capsules. 



Capsules long conic, short pedicelled, green or black in dry- 

 ing. 5. fragilis. 

 Capsules short, ovoid conic, pedicel very short or none. 

 Capsules yellowing, catkins often long. 5. alba. 

 Capsules green, catkins short. S. babylonica. 



Salix fragilis. L. Crack Willow. 



A tree reaching a height of 25 m. and a trunk diameter of 

 2.1 m. When in clumps it forms a tall slender tree, but a single 

 individual growing alone branches out so that the head is as thick 

 as high. The bark of the trunk is roughish, gray, that of the 

 smaller branches green and of the twigs sometimes red, winter 

 buds large (7 mm.) seldom well filled out. Leaves reaching a 

 length of 17.5 cm. and a breadth of 4 cm.; acute, narrowed to 

 the base, coarsely serrate with prominent glands, glabrous, 

 greenish glaucous beneath, petiole short, stipules early fugacious, 

 venation regular, showing through the glaucescence as a dark 

 net work, primaries ascending, straight, close together, not arch- 

 ing. The aments being accompanied by leaves are easily identi- 

 fied by the leaf characters; stamens 2, with pubescent filaments, 

 ripe capsules long conic, green, with a short but distinct pedicel. 



Salix fragilis is a European species planted extensively along 

 streams to hold the earth or to act as a wind-break. It is also 

 pollarded for its twigs which are valuable in basket making. It 

 is one of the most abundant species in our area. It is found both 

 planted and escaped everywhere. Our American plant is differ- 

 ent from the typical European form in having narrower leaves 

 but it is in most cases sufficiently distinct from 5. alba. 



Because of its quick rank growth, shapely habit, and beau- 

 tiful gray green foliage which turns over very prettily with every 

 breeze Salix fragilis is the best of the willows to plant for a shade 

 tree. It is difficult to understand why it has not supplanted 

 Salix alba and its varieties long ago. But the nurseries nearly 

 always carry a larger stock of the latter sorts which are much in- 

 ferior because of their habit of sending out suckers all over their 

 trunks. 



