Salix Salix, L.

3. S. alba L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 1021 (1752).

Tree up to 25 m, often pollarded. Branches ascending, appearing silvery-grey in life. Bark greyish, not flaking. Twigs silky when young, later glabrous and olive, not easily breaking off. Leaves 5-10 cm, usually 5t -7 Itimes as long as wide, acuminate, not or slightly asymmetrical at apex, cuneate at base, finely serrate, covered with white silky appressed hairs on both surfaces; petiole without glands. Stipules usually caducous. Catkins appearing with the leaves, dense, cylindrical. Bracts uniformly yellowish. Stamens 2, free; anthers yellow. Female flowers usually with 1 nectary. Europe except the Arctic; local in the Mediterranean region. Often planted. Al Au Be Br Bu Co Cr Cz D a G a Ge G r H b He Ho Hs H u It Ju Lu Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W, K, E) Sa Si Tu [Fe No Su].

1 Twigs bright yellow or orange (c) subsp. vitellina 1 Twigs brown or grey 2 Leaves dull bluish-green beneath, soon glabrescent (b) subsp. coerulea 2 Leaves not bluish-green, covered with ± persistent silky appressed hairs 3 Leaves dark green, ± glabrescent above; ovary subsessile (a) subsp. alba 3 Leaves silky on both surfaces, densely covered with long appressed silky hairs; ovary on a short but distinct pedicel (d) subsp. micans