758 THE CATKIN FAMILY. 



amongst the mountain species, and it is certain that apparently inter- 

 mediate forms between very dissimilar species are not unfrequent in 

 herbaria. These are in some cases taken from trees or shrubs much 

 altered by cultivation, in others they may be, as asserted by several 

 recent observers, natural hybrids ; in neither case can they be con- 

 sidered as botanical species. 



Male catkins sessile. Females sessile or on very short 

 peduncles, with or without leafy bracts. 

 Stamen 1 within each scale, entire or forked. Leaves 

 narrow, glabrous or whitish underneath. Anthers 



usually purple 5. Purple W, 



Stamens 2, distinct. Anthers usually yellow. 



Leaves very silky and white, at least underneath. 

 Stems erect, twiggy. Leaves long, lanceolate or 



linear 6. Osier W. 



Stems creeping underground. Leaves small, 



ovate, oblong or lanceolate 10. Creeping W. 



Leaves glabrous, downy or cottony. 



Leaves wrinkled, usually with a short crisp or 

 cottony down, especially underneath. Cap- 

 sules pedicellate. 

 Male catkins very silky, oblong. Capsules 3 to 



4 lines long. Leaves ovate or oblong . . 7. Sallow W. 

 Male catkins cylindrical, rather silky. Cap- 

 sules 2 to 3 lines long. Leaves mostly 



obovate 8. Hound-eared W. 



Leaves not wrinkled, glabrous or downy when 

 young. Catkins rather slender. Capsules 



pedicellate 9. Tea-leaved W. 



Leaves not wrinkled, downy or woolly, quite entire. 

 Catkins dense and very silky hairy. Cap- 

 sules sessile. 

 Catkins silky, white. Capsules about 2 lines 



long 11. Downy W. 



Catkins golden-yellow. Capsules about 3 lines 



long 12. Woolly W. 



Male and female catkins on short, leafy shoots. 

 Trees or tall shrubs. 



Stamens about 5. Leaves dark-green and shining . 1. Bay W. 

 Stamens 3. Leaves green above, white underneath 4. Almond W. 

 Stamens 2. 



Leaves ashy-grey or silky white. Capsules nearly 



sessile 3. Common W. 



Leaves green or glabrous. Capsules pedicellate . 2. Crack W. 

 Low, spreading or prostrate, or creeping shrubs. 

 Catkins at the end of short, leafy shoots, without 



