410 THE CATKIN FAMILY. [ Salia. 
and glabrous, or very slightly silky when young; the catkins are rather 
longer and looser, the flowers larger, the capsules more distinctly pedicel- 
late 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. FJ. spring. 
3. S. alba, Linn. (fig. 918). White or Common Willow.—A tree of 
considerable height, the foliage of an ash-grey or whitish colour; the young 
twigs green, purplish, or bright yellow. Leaves mostly narrow lanceolate, 
pointed and tvothed, 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. Com- 
mon in Britain. Fl. spring. The golden Osier (S. vitellina, Linn.) is a 
variety, with bright-yellow branches, cultivated as an Osier. 
* 4, S. amygdalina, Linn. (fig. 919). Almond or French Willow.— 
A moderate-sized tree, often flowering asa 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 S. 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 pedicel- 
late, and but little tapering at the top. 
In moist or marshy places, all over Europe and Russian Asia, except the 
extreme nortb, and much cultivated for basket-making, Frequent in parts 
of England, Scotland, and Ireland. 7. spring. 
5, S. purpurea, Linn. (fig. 920). Purple Willow.—A shrub, decum- 
bent 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-cylindrical 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 14 lines long, usually sessile, 
and very obtuse. The female catkins, especially when in fruit, are some- 
times 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. Spread over 
England, Ireland, and southern Scotland, but a doubtful native. £7. early 
spring. ‘The broader-leaved varieties, commonly designated as S. purpurea 
or S. Helix, Linn., appear to be the most common, the narrower-leaved S. 
rubra, Huds., chiefly cultivated. 
6. S. viminalis, Linn. (fig. 921). Osier Willow, Common Osier.—A 
shrub, with long, twiggy branches, usually slightly downy, sometimes 
