[ 1961 ]
S A L I X p a rv ifo lia . -
Small-leaved Dwarf Willow.
DIOECIA Diandria.
Gen. Char. Male, Ca/. the scales of a catkin. Cor.
none. Nectary a gland at the base of the stamina.
Stam. 1—5. Female, Cal. and Neel, like the male.
Cor. none. Stigmas 2. Caps, superior, of 1 cell
and 2 valves. Seeds downy.
Spec. Char. Leaves elliptical, nearly entire, with recurved
points j glaucous and silky beneath. Stem
decumbent. Stipulas ovate, entire.
G a t h e r e d by the late Mr. Crowe at East Winch and
Wrongay fen, Norfolk. After having been cultivated in his
garden for several years along with S. repens, fusca, prostrata
and adscendens hereafter described, it has constantly preserved
its habit and characters, and cannot be confounded with any
other willow. ' . -L , i |
It flowers at the end of April or. early in May. The stem
is much branched, entangled and decumbent. Branches-
elongated, wand-like, a foot or 18 inches long, spreading
obliquely or else procumbent, very densely clothed with innumerable
leaves, round, thickish, and hairy or silky. Leaves
spreading or recurved, about "half an inch long, of a broad
elliptical figure, with recurved points ; the margin slightly
revolute, either quite entire, or marked here and there with a
minute glandular tooth. The upper surface is of a dull lightish
green and nearly smooth ; the. under glaucous and more or
less silkv. Footstalks very broad and short. Buds large,
ovate, silky. Stipulas usually present, but small, ovate, entire,
hairy, tipped with a red gland. Female catkins ovate, dense,
yellowish. Scales obovate, brown, hairy. Gernien stalked,
silky, at length becoming nearly smooth. Style short, thick.
Stigmas deeply divided, thick, blunt.
Living specimens of this plant, shut up for 2 or 3 days in a
tin box. diffuse when opened an intolerably fetid fish-like
scent,, which we have observed in no other willow except
adscendens.