189 



%\t Jflora of lEiltsjjtrc. 



COMPRISING THE 



Itotoerirtfl flaitts sub $txm x\\Yx$t\ww to i\t tontg* 



By Thomas Beuges Flowee, M.R.C.S., F.L.S., &c, &c. 

 No. XIV. 



ORDER. AMENTIFERiE. (LINDL.) 

 Plants having an amentum or catkin as their infloresence. 

 Salix, (Linn.) Willow, Osier, Sallow. 

 Linn. CI. xxii., Ord. i. 



Named, according to Theis, from sal, near, and lis, water, in Celtic ; 

 but the Welsh and Celtic name of the tree is helig, the Cornish one 

 helah, and the Gaelic and Irish seileach, from any of which Salix is 

 rather derivabl e. 



1. S.fragilis (Linn.) crack Willow, Withy. The young branches 

 readily separate from the trunk in spring with the slightest blow 

 or jerk, their bases being as brittle as glass ; hence the specific name. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 1807. 



Locality, Damp meadows and osier grounds. Tree Fl. April, 

 May. Area, 1. * 3. 4. 5. In all the Districts hut the South- 

 middle where it has not been recorded. A tall bushy -headed tree, 

 very near the common Willow, whose branches are set on obliquely, 

 somewhat crossing each other, not continued in a straight line, by 

 which it may readily be distinguished in winter. Branches round, 

 very smooth, brown, brittle in the spring, and hence the wood is- 

 of little or no value. Dr. Anderssen doubts this being indigenous in 

 Britain. 



2. S. alba, (Linn.) white Willow. Foliage, of a silvery grey hue ; 

 hence the name alba. Engl. Bot. t. 2430. 



Locality. In moist meadows, and hedge-rows, in marshes, along 

 streams. Tree Fl. May. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Frequent in all the 

 Districts, and one of the most common of our native Willows. A 



