76 
DIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Salix. 
47. S. vimina'lis. (Leaves-spear-strap-shaped, very long, acute, white 
and silky beneath: branches rod-like: style elongated; germen 
sessile. E.) 
Hoffm. Sal. 1. 2. and 1. 5. 2. Foliage 1. 21. 2— J. B. 1. b. 212. 2— (E. Bot. 
1898. E.)— Fuchs. 336—(Munt. 12, is S. vitellina , and Hunt. Evel. 245, 
S.fragilis.) 
A slender and very tall shrub. Sometimes tree-like. Bark greyish, smooth, 
with here and there a crack. Branches very long, straight, slender, 
tough. Barren Catkins egg-shaped or oblong, one to one and a half 
inch in length, three or four lines in breadth, on very short fruit stalks. 
Stamens two. Nectary one. Fertile Catkins egg-oblong or cylindrical, 
one to one and a half inch long, half an inch broad, on fruit-stalks two 
lines long. Leaves , especially the lower ones, a span long or more; 
waved at the edge. The leaves being silvery underneath, the nectary in 
the barren flower long and slender, and the style in the fertile flower very 
long, are sufficient to distinguish this and its varieties from other species. 
Hoffm. The edges of the leaves are rolled back, especially when young: 
when old they are waved, but never serrated; for which reason this 
species is now removed to the third division.* 
Common Osier. (Welsh: Helygen gy ffredin afonawl. E.) Willow-beds, 
woods and hedges, especially in moist boggy land. S. April—May.t 
48. S. al/ba. Leaves spear-shaped, tapering to a point, serrated, downy 
on both sides: the lowermost serratures glandular: stigmas 
deeply cloven. E.) > 
Hoffm. Sal. i. 7 and 8. Foliage i. 24. 3— (E. Bot. 2430. E.)— Blackw. 327— 
Matth. 199— Hod. 843. 1— Lob. Ohs. 567. 2, Ic. ii. 136. 2— Ger. Em. 
1389. 1 —Park. 1430. 1— Gars. 508 —Ger. 1203. l—J. B. i. b. 212. 1— 
Tmg. 1077— Lon. i. 25. 2. b. 
This and S.fragilis are the largest of willows. Linn. A tall straight tree , 
bark grey, cracked. Branches numerous, upright, but expanding, grey, 
or brown green. Barren Catkins cylindrical, blunt, one and a half to two 
inches long, four lines broad, on fruit-stalks which are half an inch long. 
Stamens two. Nectaries two, one before the stamens inversely-heart- 
shaped, the other behind them, and oblong. Fertile Catkins slender, 
cylindrical, two inches long, three or four lines broad; on fruit-stalks 
near an inch in length. Leaves sharply and elegantly serrated, shining 
but pubescent above, white and silky underneath. Inner bark green; 
in S. vitellina it is yellow. Hoffm. 
* (Sir J. E. Smith distinguishes the proper Osier from the Sallows, by their long, 
straight, flexible, and mostly tough twigs; their generally sessile germens, and elon¬ 
gated styles and stigmas. E.) 
-J- The branches make excellent hoops, and baskets of the larger sort: (a very 
ancient usage, 
“ And bending Osiers into baskets wove.”— Viug. E.) 
It is often planted to prevent the banks of rivers from being washed away by the force 
of the current; and it forms a hedge very useful in keeping off winds.—Horses, cows, 
sheep, and goats eat it. Linnseus.—Putcheons and wheels for catching eels; and bird¬ 
cages are made of the twigs. Stokes. (The Treatise on Planting and Ornamental 
Gardening says, Of all aquatics, the Osier stands first as a coppice wood, whether it 
be cut annually for the basket makers, or be suffered to stand three, four, five, or more 
years for withs, hurdles, edders, stakes, rake handles, &c. or poles of almost any 
length or dimensions. Having prepared the ground, insert the setts, (cuttings about 
