58 
LONG-LEAVED WILLOW. 
SALIX speciosa; foliis longissimis lanceolatis serrulatis 
promisse acuminatis glabris subtus glaucis junioribus 
pilosis; amentis serotinis 6 — 9 -andris, germinibus pedicel- 
latis lanceolatis acuminatis glabris, squamis lanceolato- 
oblongis sericeis, stigmatis lobis bifidis. 
Salix ltjcida, Hook, (as it regards the Oregon plant.) Flor. Bor. 
Am., vol. 2. p. 148. 
No Willow on the American continent presents so 
remarkable and splendid an appearance as the present; 
the effect of which is produced no less by its magnitude 
than the size and beauty of its foliage. Its aspect is 
that of a large Peach tree, with the leaves and their 
stalks from five to eight inches long by an inch to an 
inch and a half wide; beneath, when adult, they are 
glaucous, like those of the River Maple. The summit is 
tufted and spreading; and the tree attains the elevation 
of about 20 to 30 feet, with a trunk of 12 to 18 inches 
in diameter. When in full bloom, which is with the 
first expansion of the leaves, in May, the numerous and 
large bright yellow catkins, loading the branches, emu- 
late the finest Acacia of New Holland; they are also 
agreeably fragrant, and attract swarms of wild bees 
and other insects, in continual motion among their 
waving branches. We have seen this noble species no- 
where in such perfection as along the banks of the deep 
Wahlamet and the wide Oregon, whose numerous 
islands are almost exclusively decked with this imposing 
Willow, which continues to the Blue Mountains, and 
along the neighbouring streams as far east as the river 
Boisee. As we sailed along the smooth bosom of these 
