SALIX 
i7 
Qdorous than in S. pentandra. Catkins appearing with the leaves, a little earlier than in >S. 
pentandra ; mid-May and late May. Stamens usually 3 — 5, often 4. Bracts thinly hairy to the 
summit, as a rule. Capsules more slender than in 5 . pentandra ; early and mid-June. 
This willow is interesting as being the last of the numerous “species” described by Smith and Borrer, the first being 
S. repens ( Eng . Bot. no. 183 (1794)). After all the 70 years spent by these eminent and extremely careful systematists in 
elucidating this difficult genus, Borrer pathetically remarks: — “We learn that Wimmer.. .gives our plant as a hybrid of 
A. pe71ta.nd.ra and S. fragilis. We cannot disprove this opinion ; but if hybrid willows are so easily produced, so often fertile, 
and so capable of perpetuating their own forms 1 ... the ‘gift of scientific divination ’...is indeed needful for determining the 
species and their products” {Eng. Bot. Suppl. no. 2961 et no. 2962 (1863)). In these words, the opponents of the hybrid- 
theory of the origin of many willows, and indeed of many other plants, acknowledged their defeat. Whatever faults may be 
laid to the Salician work of Smith and Borrer, it was always thorough and exact. In these respects, we regret to say, their 
worthy example has not always been followed by their successors. 
Rare, osier-beds and hedgerows ; Cambridgeshire (not indigenous), Suffolk (not indigenous), Herefordshire, 
Shropshire, Westmorland; Ireland — co. Kildare, co. Mayo; sometimes planted. 
Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Austria, Russia. 
Series ii. Fra GILES 
Fragiles Koch Sat. Comment. 13 (1828) excluding S. pentandra and x S. cuspidata ; Borrer in Hooker Brit. 
Ft. 417 (1830); v. Seemen in Ascherson und Graebner Syn. iv, 57 et 70 (1908) including Albae pp. 57 et 78; 
Eu-Fragiles A. et G. Camus Classif. Said. 76 (1904) including Albae p. 69, as a subsection. 
It is usual in systematic works to separate S', alba from the series Fragiles on the ground that the nectary of the pistil- 
late flowers of S', alba is single; but we do not find it possible to retain a series Albae, as the character in question is 
rather unstable, and cannot be regarded as outweighing the many common characters of S. alba and S. fragilis. 
For characters, see page 14. 
Species and hybrids of Fragiles 
2. S. fragilis (see below). Laminae glabrous or nearly so at maturity, long. Nectaries of the 
staminate flowers broader than in S. alba. Capsules tapering, stalked. 
3. S. alba (p. 19). Laminae more or less silvery-white with hairs, short. Nectaries of the 
staminate flowers narrower than in S. fragilis. Capsules obtuse, sessile or subsessile. 
*S. alba x fvagilis (p. 21). Laminae intermediate in size and hairyness between S. alba and S', fragilis, 
silvery-white with hairs when young. Capsules more or less stalked. 
4. # S. babylonica (p. 22). Young branches weeping. Laminae glabrous or almost so at 
maturity. Style longer than in the other British members of this series. Capsules sessile. 
2. SALIX FRAGILIS. Crack Willow. Plates 20, 21 ; 19, 22, 24 
Salix folio longo latoque splendente fragilis Ray Cat. Cantab. 143 (1660); Syn. ed. 3, 448 (1724). 
Salix fragilis L. Sp. PI. 1017 (1753); Smith FI. Brit. 1051 (1804); Syme Eng. Bot. viii, 205 (1868); 
A. et G. Camus Classif. Saul. 76 (1904); v. Seemen in Ascherson und Graebner Syn. iv, 70 (1908); Rouy FI. 
France xii, 193 (1910). 
Tree, attaining a height of about 25 — 30 m. Bark of old trees rugged. Branches more wide- 
spreading than in 5 . alba ; young ones glabrescent, shining, easily breaking at the base. Winter- 
buds glabrous, more or less viscous. Stipules caducous or persistent, variable in shape, larger than 
in -S', alba , outer margin more or less toothed. Petioles about ro — 1'5 cm. long, glabrous or 
glabrescent, more or less glandular towards the summit at least when young. Laminae lanceolate, 
broadest towards the base, up to about 13 cm. long and 2 — 4 broad, glabrescent, often subglaucous 
underneath, longer and usually broader than in A', alba, width very variable. Catkins often more or 
less pendulous at maturity, appearing with the leaves ; April, a little earlier than 5 . alba. Nectaries 
broad, sometimes lobed, usually 2 to each flower. Bracts oblong or elliptical, variable in size, 
obtuse or truncate at the summit, ciliate with long straight hairs. Staminate catkins up to about 
6 cm. long and nearly 1 broad. Stamens arising from the base of the larger outer nectary. Fila- 
ments hairy at the base. Anthers yellow or orange-yellow. Pistillate catkins up to about 7 cm. 
long and o'5 broad. Ovaries subsessile or shortly stalked. Style short. Stigmas bifid. Capsules 
more or less elongate and attenuate, on stalks twice or thrice as long as the nectaries. 
M. 11. 
Doubtless this is a reference to Max Wichura’s experiment on x S. ambigua (see page 57). 
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