410 THE CATKIN FAMILY [Salix. 



In Britain, chiefly in northern England and southern Scotland, rare in 

 Ireland. Fl. spring, rather late. 



2. S. fragilis, Linn. (fig. 919). Oracle W. — Very near S. alba, but 

 usually a more bushy though equally large tree, and the foliage green 

 and glabrous, or very slightly silky when young ; the catkins are rather 

 longer and looser, the flowers larger, the capsules more distinctly pedi- 

 cellate and much more tapering at the top. 



Widely distributed, like S. alba, over Europe and Russian Asia, and 

 extensively cultivated, with nearly the same geographical limits. In 

 Britain, believed to be indigenous in England, and doubtfully in Ireland 

 and Scotland. Fl. spring. 



3. S. alba, Linn. (fig. 920). White or Common W.—A tree of con- 

 siderable height, the foliage of an ash-grey or whitish colour ; the 

 young twigs green, purplish, or bright yellow. Leaves mostly narrow 

 lanceolate, pointed and toothed, but not so finely as in S. pentandra, 

 and when young silky- white on both sides, or at least underneath, often 

 glabrous when old, but never of a bright green. Catkins cylindrical 

 and loose, on short, lateral shoots, or leafy peduncles. Stamens always 

 2, usually with 2 glandular scales. Capsule glabrous, sessile or nearly 

 so, shortly tapering at the top. 



In moist meadows, in marshes, along streams, &c, throughout Europe 

 and temperate Asia, except the extreme north, and extensively planted. 

 Common in Britain. Fl. spring. The golden Osier (S. vitellina, Linn.), 

 is a variety, with bright-yellow branches, cultivated as an Osier. [S. 

 ccerulea, Sm., is another, with olive-green twigs and leaves glaucous blue 

 beneath.] 



4. S. amygdalina, Linn. (fig. 921). Almond or French W. — A mode- 

 rate-sized tree, often flowering as a shrub. Leaves rather narrow, 

 lanceolate, either paler or more frequently nearly white underneath, 

 but not silky. Catkins cylindrical and loose, on very short, leafy 

 shoots, like those of $. alba, but in the males there are always 3 stamens 

 within each scale, and in the females the scales are more persistent, 

 remaining often till the fruit is ripe. Capsules seldom 2 lines long, 

 glabrous, usually pedicellate, and but little tapering at the top. 



In moist or marshy places, all over Europe and Russian Asia, except 

 the extreme north, and much cultivated for basket-making. Frequent 

 in parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. FL spring. 



5. S. purpurea, Linn. (fig. 922). Purple W. — A shrub, decumbent 

 at the base, or a small tree ; the branches twiggy, glabrous, yellow, 

 green or purple. Leaves usually long and narrow, varying to oblong, 

 green and glabrous above, usually whitish or slightly silky underneath. 

 Catkins appearing before the leaves, the males at least closely sessile 

 along the twigs, with only very small bracts at the base, narrow-cylin- 

 drical but closely packed, seldom an inch long when in flower, shortly 

 silky ; the scales short, obtuse, and tipped with purple. Stamens united 

 into an entire filament with a double anther, or the filament forked, 

 with an anther on each branch. Capsules cottony-white, 1 to 1\ lines 

 long, usually sessile, and very obtuse. The female catkins, especially 

 when in fruit, are sometimes shortly stalked, with a few leafy bracts at 

 their base. 



In marshy places, and on river-banks, in temperate and southern 

 Europe, extending across Asia; some varieties cultivated as Osiers. 



