1550

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

entire, though slightly wavy at the edges, and somewhat revolute; theupper side green, glabrous, even; under side pure white, with close cot-tony, or rather silky, down. Stipules linear-lanceolate. Catkins numerous,lateral, sessile, full 1 in. long.” ( Smith.) This species is readily distinguishedfrom others of the section to which it belongs by the white satiny undersurface of its leaves. It is held in high estimation for the various kindsof basketwork, bands, &c.; and it is generally employed for such purposes.Varieties. One has the bark of the branchlets of a testaceous colour(brownish yellow) ; another dark brown; and the leaves of this variety areof a darker green : but there are many intermediate varieties. ( Koch Comm.)“ There is a variety called the velvet osier, in which no external differenceis discernible; but the twigs are said to be more pliant.” It is muchesteemed as an osier for wickerwork. ( Smith Eng. FI., iv. p. 229.) Perhapsit is right to understand Smith as intending this as a distinct kind from“ the true velvet osier,” which he has noticed under S. Smithfdna, andwhich is mentioned in this work under S. holosericea. In the neighbourhoodof Edinburgh, a brown-barked variety, probably the same as that mentionedby Koch, is grown for hoops, under the name of the Dutch willow. Itmakes shoots 10 ft. or 12 ft. long in one season. Plants are common inthe nurseries. Species named S. Villaresii, S. purpiirea mas, and S. rubra,sent to us from the arboretum of Messrs. Loddiges, are all the same as S.viminalis.

Culture, Sfc. There is nothing peculiar in the culture of this species, or itsvarieties; but, as it is a vigorous grower, those who cultivate it in quantitiesfor basket-making or hoops generally plant it in the best soil, intersected bywatercourses, so that the roots may always have that element within theirreach. Accounts of the formation, management, and profit attending osierplantations will be found in the Bath Agricultural Society’s Papers, vol. xvi.p. 129.; Transactions of the Society of Arts, vols. 19, 20. 22, 23, and 24.: but,after our general directions for the culture and management of basket andhoop willows (p. 1467.), it is unnecessary here to enter into farther details.

® ¥ 76. S. stipula'ris Smith. The stipuled, or auricled-leaved, Osier, or

Willow.

Identification. Smith FI. Brit., p. 1069.; Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 708.; Koch de Sal. Europ. Comm.,p. 29.; Smith Eng. Bot., t. 1214.; Eng. Flora, 4. p. 230.; Hook. Br. FI., ed. 2., p. 420.; Mackay FI.Hibern., pt. 1. p. 249.

The Sexes. Both are described in Eng. Flora, and both are figured in Eng. Bot., and both in Sal.Wob.

Engravings. Eng. Bot., 11214.; Sal. Wob., 132.; and fig. 132. in p. 1628.

Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves lanceolate, pointed, slightly wavy, obscurely crenate;soft and nearly naked above, white and downy beneath. Stipules half-heart-shaped, stalked, very large. Gland cylindrical. Ovary ovate, nearlysessile, as well as the linear undivided stigmas. ( Smith E. F.) A nativeof England, in osier holts, hedges, and woods; and flowering in March.“ Twigs upright, tall, soft and downy, of a pale reddish brown, brittle, andof little or no use as an osier. Leaves almost upright, numerous, abouta span long, sharp-pointed, unequally and slightly crenate, green, even,and soft; though hardly downy above, finely downy and whitish beneath,with a nearly smooth, reddish, or pale midrib, and remarkably downy, or,as it were, fringed, veins. Footstalks stout, \ in. or f in. long.” {Smith.)“ Allied to S. viminalis in fructification ; differing in its larger and coarserleaves, less white beneath; and in their large, very remarkable stipules.”{Hook. Br.Fl.) “ It is not worthy of cultivation for any economical purpose:yet it was sent several times to the late Mr. Sowerby to draw, as thetrue S. viminalis, the valuable qualities of which every body knows.” {SmithE.F.) Common in the nurseries.

¥ 77. S. Smith/^'na Willd. Smith’s Willow, or the silky-leaved Osier.

Identification. Willd. Enum., 1008.; Smith Eng. FI., 4. p.229.; Forbes in Sal. Wob., No. 1S4., sofar as relates to the female; Hook. Br. FI., ed. 2., p. 420.; Mackay Fi. Hibern., pt. 1. p. 250.