Salix Salix, L.

7. S. herbacea L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 1018 (1753).

D w arf shrub with long, creeping, branched underground stems. Aerial twigs usually 2-3 cm, with 2-5 leaves. Leaves 0-6-2 cm, orbicular or reniform, less than 1 | times as long as wide and sometimes wider than long, rounded or emarginate, cordate or rounded at base, crenateserrate, glabrous, bright green and shining, veins prominent on both surfaces; petioles up to 5 mm. Stipules usually absent. Catkins 0-5-1-5 cm, 2- to 12-flowered. Bracts more or less obovate, yellowish-green, usually glabrous. Female flowers with 2 nectaries. Capsule ovoid-conical, obtuse, glabrous, often reddish; style short. 2zz = 38. Arctic and subarctic Europe, extending southwards in the mountains to the Pyrenees, C. Appennini and Bulgaria. Au Br Bu Cz Fa Fe G a Ge Hb He Hs Is It Ju N o Po Rm Rs (N, W) Sb Su.

Hybridizes frequently with several species in Scandinavia, Iceland and Scotland but very rarely in other areas. The influence of S. herbacea in the hybrids is always very evident in growth and leaf-shape.