C ]
SALIX nigricans.
Dark-broad-leaved Willow.
DIOECIA Diandria,
G en. Ch a r . Male, Cal. the scales of a catkin. Cor.
none. Nectary a gland at the base of the stamina.
Stam. 1 5. Female, Cal. and Nect. like the male.
Cor. none. Sigmas 2. Caps, superior, of 1 cell
and 2 valves. Seeds downy.
S pec. Ch a r . Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, crenate, smooth;
glaucous beneath. Germen lanceolate, acute, silky,
stalked.
Syn. Salix nigricans. 7V. o f Linn. Soc. v. 6. 120.
S. phylicifolia (3 . L inn. Sp. P I 1442. FI. L a p p ,
n. 350. t. 8. ƒ c.
W e have already, at t. 1145, apologized for publishino- but
one sex m this difficult genus when we could not obtain both,
as is the case with the present species, of which the male only
Has come under our inspection in a living state. Female specimens
are indeed in the Linnean herbarium, but what is
mentioned as the female in Tr. o f L. Soc. v. 6. 121, seems
on mature consideration to be possibly different.
The male S. nigricans has been observed by Mr. Crowe at
Wrongay fen, Norfolk, and in osier grounds in many places.
I t flowers in April. The stem scarcely forms a tree, though
it sometimes rises to 10 or 12 feet in height, with many, irregular,
straightish, brittle, dark-coloured branches: the young
ones downy. Leaves 3 inches long, lanceolate, somewha°t
elliptical, acute, scarcely rounded at the base, crenate in every
part; dark-green and smooth above, turning black when dried :
beneath glaucous, veiny, sometimes a little downy. Stipulse
large, obliquely cordate, serrated, smooth, veiny. Catkins
yellow, about an inch or more in length, thick and obtuse, their
scales obovate, narrow, brown in their upper half, hairy. Stamina
2, distinct, thicker upwards, more or less hairy below.'
Capsules (in the Linnean specimen) lanceolate, brown, downy,
each on a little partial stalk.