THE WILLOWS. 
71 
shaped, tapering to a point in front, and narrowing into the 
foot-stalk behind. They have waved margins without teeth, 
and the upper surface netted with veins, the under surface 
silvery and silky ; stipules narrow lance-shaped. The Osier 
may be seen in Osier-beds and wet places generally throughout 
the country as far north as Elgin and Arg>dl. There are 
several varieties and hybrids. 
The Purple Osier {Salix purpttred). In all the other 
Willows mentioned the stamens, whatever their number, all 
have the filaments distinct from each other. In this species 
alone the filaments of the two stamens are more or less 
united. The Purple Osier gets its name from the red or purple 
bark which clothes the thin but tough twigs. It is a shrub, 
and grows from five to ten feet high. The leaves, which are 
rather thin in texture, are from three to six inches long, of slender- 
lance-shape, with toothed edges, smooth and glaucous on both 
sides, but especially beneath, somewhat hairy when young. 
They are almost opposite on the twigs, and when dried for the 
herbarium turn black. There are several varieties of this shrub, 
which were formerly honoured with specific rank. 
There remains a group of several small species of very local 
occurrence, with which we can do little more here beyond 
naming them. 
The Woolly Willow {Salix lanatd) is a small shrub, two or three 
feet high, with twisted branches, woolly twigs, and hairy black 
buds. The broad egg-shaped or oblong leathery leaves are also 
woolly, and two or three inches long. There are half-heart-shaped 
stipules at the base of the very short leaf-stalk. It is an Alpine 
plant, and is found about the mountain rills of Perth, Forfar, 
Inverness, and Sutherland at elevations between 2000 and 2500 
feet. Conspicuous in spring for its rich golden catkins. Sadler’s 
Willow (S', sadleri), of which only two or three specimens have 
been found (in Glen Callater, 2500 feet), is probably a form of 
this species. 
