the willow, in botany: A genus of the diandra order, belonging to the dioica clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 5th order, Amentaceae. The amentum of the male is fealy; there is no corolla; but a nectariferous glandule at the base of the flower. The female amentum is fealy; there is no corolla; the style bifid; the capsule unilocular and bivalved; the seeds papuous. The willow trees have been frequently the theme of poetical description, both in ancient and modern times. In Virgil, Horace, and Ovid, we have many exquisite allusions to them and their several properties; and for a melancholy lover or a contemplative poet, imagination cannot paint a fitter retreat than the banks of a beautiful river, and the shade of a drooping willow. There are 31 species; of which the most remarkable are, 1. The caprea, or common fallow-tree, grows to but a moderate height, having smooth, dark-green, brittle branches; oval, waved, rough leaves, indented at top, and woolly underneath. It grows abundantly in this country, but more frequently in dry than moist situations: it is of a brittle nature, so is unfit for the basket-makers; but will serve for poles, stakes, and to lop for fire-wood; and its timber is good for many purposes. 2. The alba, white, or silver-leaved, willow, grows to a great height and considerable bulk, having smooth pale-green shoots; long, spear-shaped, acuminate, sawed, filvery-white leaves, being downy on both sides, with glands below the ferratures. This is the common white willow, which grows abundantly about towns and villages, and by the sides of rivers and brooks, &c. 3. The vitellina, yellow or golden willow, grows. grows but to a moderate height; having yellow, very pliant, shoots; oval, acute, serrated, very smooth leaves, with the serratures cartilaginous, and with callous punctures on the footstalks. 4. The purpurea, purple, or red willow, grows to a large height, having long, reddish, very pliable shoots, and long spear-shaped, serrated, smooth leaves, the lower ones being opposite. 5. The viminalis, or offer-willow, grows but a moderate height, having slender rod-like branches; very long, pliant, greenish shoots; and very long, narrow, spear-shaped, acute, almost entire leaves, hoary, and silky underneath. 6. The pentandra, pentandrous, broad-leaved, sweet-scented willow, grows to some considerable stature, having brownish-green branches; oblong, broad, serrated, smooth, sweet-scented leaves, shining above; and pentandrous flowers. 7. The triandra, or triandrous willow, grows to a large stature, having numerous, erect, greyish-green branches, and pliant shoots; oblong, acute-pointed, serrated smooth, shining-green leaves, eared at the base; and triandrous flowers. 8. The fragilis, fragile or crack-willow, rises to a middling stature, with brownish, very fragile, or brittle branches, long, oval lanceolate, sawed, smooth leaves of a shining-green on both sides, having dentated glandular footstalks. This fort in particular being exceedingly fragile, so that it easily cracks and breaks, is unfit for culture in other grounds. 9. The Babylonica, Babylonian pendulous salix, commonly called weeping willow, grows to a large size, having numerous, long, slender, pendulous branches, hanging down loosely all round in a curious manner, and long, narrow, spear-shaped, serrated, smooth leaves. This curious willow is a native of the east, and is retained in our hardy plantations for ornament, and exhibits a most agreeable variety; particularly when disposed singly by the verges of any piece of water, or in spacious openings of grass-ground.

All the species of salix are of the tree kind, very hardy, remarkably fast growers, and several of them attaining a considerable stature when permitted to run up to standards. They are mostly of the aquatic tribe, being generally the most abundant and of most prosperous growth in watery situations; they however will grow freely almost anywhere, in any common soil and exposure; but grow considerably the tallest and strongest in low moist land, particularly in marshy situations, by the verges of rivers, brooks, and other waters; likewise along the sides of watery ditches, &c. which places often lying waste, may be employed to good advantage, in plantations of willows, for different purposes.