Salix triandra
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| Salix triandra | ||||||||||||||
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 Leaves and female catkin
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| Salix triandra L. |
Salix triandra (Almond Willow or Almond-leaved Willow) is a species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia, from southeastern England east to Lake Baikal, and south to Spain and the Caucasus and Alborz mountains. It usually grows on river banks and wetlands.[1][2][3]
It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 10 m tall, usually multistemmed, with an irregular, often leaning crown. The bark is smooth grey-brown at first, becoming scaly on older stems with large scales exfoliating (like a plane tree) to leave orange-brown patches. The leaves are broad lanceolate, 4-11 cm long and 1-3 cm wide, with a serrated margin; they are dull dark green above and green to glaucous-green below, with a 1–2 cm petiole with two conspicuous basal stipules. The flowers are produced in catkins in early spring at the same time as the new leaves, and pollinated by insects. They are dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate trees; the male catkins are 2.5–8 cm long, the female catkins 2–4 cm long. The male flowers have three stamens, a useful identification feature with most other willows having two or five stamens.[1][2]
The variety Salix triandra var. hoffmanniana Bab., found in Great Britain, is distinguished by being smaller (rarely over 4 m tall) and densely branched, with smaller leaves 2-7 cm long and 1-2.5 cm wide not glaucous below. It is not considered distinct by all authorities, particularly on continental Europe, so its range outside Britain, if any, is not reported.[1]
The scientific name derives from the male flowers having three stamens. The English name refers to the similarity in leaf shape to Almond leaves.
It readily forms natural hybrids with Salix viminalis, the hybrid being named Salix × mollissima Hoffm. ex Elwert.[1]
Plants from eastern Asia formerly treated as Salix triandra var. nipponica (Franch. & Savatier) Seem.[3] are now considered a distinct species Salix nipponica; it shares the feature of male flowers with three stamens.[4] In North America, it is replaced by the related Salix amygdaloides (Peachleaf Willow), which differs in having male flowers with 4–7 stamens.[5]
[edit] Cultivation and uses
The shoots (withies) are extensively used for basket-making; it is one of the most important willows for this purpose after Salix viminalis, with several selected cultivars including 'Black Maul', 'Grizette', 'Mottled Spaniards', 'Sarda', and 'Yellow Dutch'.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Meikle, R. D. (1984). Willows and Poplars of Great Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook No. 4. ISBN 0-901158-07-0.
- ^ a b Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
- ^ a b Den Virtuella Floran: Salix triandra (in Swedish; with maps)
- ^ Flora of China: Salix nipponica
- ^ Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Salix amygdaloides
