SALICACE^. (WILLOW FAMILY.) 465 



stamens 3-6; pods mostly short-ovate. ( S. ambigua, Pursh.) — Var.FALcA.TA. 

 has the leaves elongated, scythe-shaped, and the stipules large, broadly lunate, re- 

 flexed. ( S. falcata, Pursh. S. Purshiana, Spreng. S. ligustrina, Michx.f.) — 

 Tree 15°- 25° high, with a rough black bark : frequent along streams, especially 

 southward. 



* * Stamens mostly 2 : ovary very short-stalked or nearly sessile, glabrous, 



14. S. fragilis, L. (Brittle W.) Leaves lanceolate, taper-pointed, smooth, 

 glaucous beneath (slightly silky when young), serrate with inflexed teeth ; stipules 

 half-heart-shaped ; pods tapering-conical. — Var. DEcfpiENS has dark brown 

 buds, and the lowest leaves on the branches broadly obovate, very obtuse. 

 (S. decipiens, Hoffm.) — Var. Russelliana has the leaves long and bright, 

 strongly and very sharply serrate ; the younger ones and upper branches of 

 the annual shoots silky-downy towards autumn ; stipules large and taper 

 pointed. (S. Russelliana, Smith.) — Var. viridis, has long and acute flexuous 

 erect catkins, tough pendulous branchlets, and firmer bright-green leaves. (S. 

 viridis, Fries.) — A tall and handsome tree, with smooth polished branches; 

 cultivated for basket work. (Adv. from Eu.) 



15. S. Alba, L. (White W.) Leaves lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 

 pointed, toothed, clothed more or less with white and silky hairs, especially beneath; 

 stipules lanceolate ; stigmas nearly sessile, thick and recurved. — Var. vitellina 

 has yellow branches ; leaves shorter and broader. (S. vitellina, Smith 8f Borrer.) 

 — Var. oerulea has the leaves nearly smooth at maturity, greenish or brown- 

 ish, and greatly resembles the preceding species. (S. caerulea, Smith.) — A 

 familiar tree, of rapid growth, attaining a height of 50° - 80°. (Adv. from Eu.) 



16. S. Babylonica, Tourn. (Weeping Willow), belongs to this section, 

 and is planted for ornament. Only the fertile plant is known in the United 

 States. — There is also a remarkable form of it with curled or annular leaves 

 ( S. annularis, Forbes), well known in gardens as the Ring-leaved or Hoop 

 Willow. 



* * * Stamens 2 : ovary stalked, mostly silky or downy ; the scale narrow. 



17. S. longifolia, Muhl. (Long-leaved W.) Leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 very long, tapering at each end, nearly sessile, remotely denticulate with pro- 

 jecting teeth, clothed with gray hairs when young ; stipules small, lanceolate, 

 toothed ; gland long, in the sterile flowers sometimes deeply 2 - 3-cleft ; in the 

 fertile longer than the short stalk of the ovary ; stigmas very large, sessile. — 

 River-banks, rooting extensively in sand or gravel : common, especially west- 

 ward. Varying greatly, 2° - 20° high. 



§ 5. Catkins peduncled, borne on the lateral {or sometimes the terminal) leafy branches 

 of the season, appearing in June: stipules deciduous or none: scales persistent. — 

 Small shrubs, mostly with underground spreading stems, sending up short erect or 

 prostrate branches. 



* Upright (l°-3° high), not alpine: pod long-stalked : stamens 2. 



18. S. myrtilloides, L. (Myrtle W.) Very glabrous, except the 

 scales of the catkin; leaves elliptical, oblong, or linear-oblong, entire (l'-2 f 

 long) reticulated, pale or glaucous beneath, somewhat coriaceous ; catkins ob- 



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