Salix Salix, L.

63. S. purpurea L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 1017 (1753).

Rather slender shrub up to 5 m. Bark bitter. Twigs slender, straight, glabrous, shining, usually purplish at first, becoming greenish- or yellowish-grey. Leaves 3-12 cm, 3-15 times as long as wide, sometimes opposite, at least near the ends of twigs, obovate-oblong to oblanceolatelinear, acute or acuminate, very finely serrate, glabrous, dull and slightly bluish-green above, paler and often glaucous beneath. Stipules small, caducous. Catkins 2-4- 5 cm, appearing before the leaves, dense, cylindrical, suberect to spreading, subsessile. Bracts blackish at the apex. Stamens 2, completely united and appearing as one. Ovary pubescent. Most of Europe, except Fennoscandia. Au Be Br Bu Co Cz Ga Ge Gr Hb He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Lu Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W, K, E) Sa Si Tu [Da No Su].