a close pubescence on the upper side of the leaf-stalk ; dark
green and not much shining above, very glaucous beneath ;
the veins slightly exarated on the upper, very little prominent
on the under side. Leaf-stalksof moderate length,slender,
with a dilated base. Stipules deciduous, small in general,
pointed, glandulose on the edges and on the upper surface
half-heartshaped when largest. Female catkins scarcely
an inch long whilst in flower, on a short thick stalk. Floral
leaves 3 or 4, small, lanceolate, recurved, with long silky
hairs beneath on the nerve and edges, and furnished with
minute narrow stipules which soon shrivel. Flowers rather
closely set. Calyx-scales slightly concave, lanceolate
or oblong, acute, especially in the lower flowers,dark brown
or black, except at the base, silky on both sides, the long
hairs of the back forming a fringe. N ectary single, interior,
small, pale, almost square. Germen between erect and patent,
on a densely hairy stalk about half as long as the calyx
scale when in flower, obsoletely quadrangular, rounded
at the base, thence tapering to a bluntish point, towards
which only it is silky with appressed hairs. Style naked,
rather longer than the narrow, shortish, deeply divided,
pale stigmas. Male flowers unknown to us*.
This is a much taller shrub than S’. Davalliana, with
leaves rather longer and more spreading, less shining and
of a duller green above and whiter on the underside, and
the flowers differ, as may be gathered from the descriptions.
We have repeatedly disclaimed all dogmatical decision as
to what are species among the Willows, nor have we ever
denied the probability that many of those which in the present
state of our knowledge we think it expedient to propose
as distinct, may be, in reality, mere seminal varieties
or hybrids. This being admitted, the further admission
can scarcely be withheld, that those botanists may possibly
be correct in their views who regard, in some instances, as
species what we are accustomed to regard'as sections of the
genus. Of these facile princeps is Koch, whose lucid De
Salicibus Europasis Commentatio displays a most intimate
acquaintance with his subject.—W. B.
* Since this plate and description have been prepared, we have been favoured
by Mr. Forbes with recent specimens in leaf of S. ramifusca, Salict.
Woburn, t. 53.; and we find it so similar to our S. tetrapla that we can
scarcely doubt its being the male plant of the same species. We regret
that we were not earlier acquainted with it, but we trust to have a future
opportunity of further illustrating this and some other similarly circumstanced
Salices.