2. Fàgus sylvática, L. (European Beech.) Leaves often similar to those of the American Beech, but usually shorter and broader; the border, often nearly entire, is wavy in some varieties, and in others deeply pinnatifid. The bark in most varieties is darker than in the American. This Beech, with its numerous varieties, is the one usually cultivated. Among the most useful varieties are atropurpurea (Purple Beech), with the darkest foliage of any deciduous tree, and almost entire-margined leaves; laciniata (Cut-leaved Beech), with very deeply cut leaves; and argentea variegata (Silver Variegated Beech), having in the spring quite distinctly variegated leaves.

Order XL. SALICÀCEÆ. (Willow Family.)

A small order of soft-wooded trees and shrubs, abundantly distributed in the northern temperate and frigid zones.

Genus 91. SÀLIX.

Soft-wooded trees or shrubs growing in damp places, with alternate, usually quite elongated, pointed, deciduous leaves, without lobes. Stipules often large, leaf-like, and more or less persistent through the summer; sometimes scale-like and dropping early. The stipules are always free from the leafstalk and attached to the twig at small spots just below the leafstalk. Even if the stipules have dropped off, the small scars remain. Flowers staminate and pistillate on separate trees (diœcious), in elongated catkins in early spring. Fruit consists of catkins of small pods with numerous seeds having silky down at one end. The seeds usually drop early. Among the Willows there are so many hybrids and peculiar varieties as to render their study difficult, and their classification, in some cases, impossible. The following Key will probably enable the student to determine most specimens. No attempt has been made to include all the cultivated forms.

* Spray decidedly weeping 5.
* Spray not decidedly weeping. (A.)
A. Rather small Willows, 10 to 30 ft. high, with broad leaves, usually not over twice as long as wide; cultivated. (B.)
B. Leaves glossy dark green on the upper side, taper-pointed 7.
B. Leaves with white cottony hairs beneath 10.
B. Leaves rough-veiny beneath 13.
A. Rather large Willows, 12 to 80 ft. high, with the bark of the trunk very rough; leaves more elongated. (C.)
C. Petioles of the leaves not glandular; tree 10 to 40 ft. high. (D.)
D. Leaves green on both sides when mature 1.
D. Leaves glaucous beneath 2.
C. Petioles of the leaves usually glandular; tree 50 to 80 ft. high. (E.)
E. Young leaves green above and glaucous beneath 3.
E. Young leaves ashy gray or silvery white on both sides 4.
A. Small trees or almost shrubs, under 18 ft. high; bark of trunk rather smooth. (F.)
F. Leaves ovate rather than lanceolate, sometimes truncate or even cordate at base. (G.)
G. Leaves quite broad, shining on both sides. (H.)
H. Leaves bright green; twigs polished green 6.
H. Leaves very dark green, strongly fragrant when bruised 7.
G. Leaves pale-downy beneath, often cordate at base 8.
F. Leaves usually wider near the acute or acuminate tip, glaucous beneath. (I.)
I. Branches very twiggy; leaves often opposite; twigs olive-color or reddish 9.
I. Branches not very twiggy; leaves all alternate 11, 12.
F. Leaves very long and slender, almost linear 14.

S. nìgra

1. Sàlix nìgra, Marsh. (Black Willow.) Leaves narrowly lanceolate, tapering at the ends, serrate, smooth except on the petiole and midrib, green on both sides; stipules small (large in var. falcata), dentate, dropping early. Branches very brittle at base. A small tree, 15 to 35 ft. high, with rough black bark. Common along streams, southward, but rare in the northern range of States.