Salix- Willow Flashcards
Salix
Willow
Salix trees
Salix pentandra
Salix alba
Salix acutifolia
Salix discolor
Salix pentrandra
Laurel- leaf willow
Salix alba
White willow
Salix acutifolia
Sharp-leaf willow
Salix discolor
Pussy willow
Salix Shrubs
Salix repens ‘argentea’
Salix salicola “polar bear”
salix exigua- coyote willow
Willow
Grows well in high moisture areas
native to low lying wet area; close to water
cattails are indicator plant that water is near soil surface
Another self-pruning’ Genus
Willow- dioecious
Female catkins- two sided capsule; releasing seed/winged fluffy seeds
male catkins- yellow/showy(ish), sometimes fluffy
Dioecious
Individual male and female
Willow - buds
Compound buds
catkins forming with leaves
Primary bud- usually reproductive
secondary and tertiary buds- typically vegetative growth
Extrafloral nectaries
nectaries outside of the floral tissue, occur near leaf blade, small bump at base of leaf
maintain pressure in plant and used for secretions
Laurel leaf willow
Most popular
multi-trunked
as wide as tall
low and round headed
used in landscaping
can get quite wide
don’t put close to roadways or sidewalks
can often form new growth on old wood- can be maintained by removing them
Laurel leaf willow- leaf
Alternate, elliptic-lanceolate acuminate tip, rounded at base
serrate margin
shiny, dark green above; almost leathery looking
no autumn colouration
Laurel leaf willow- buds
large, green, pointed towards stem
Salix alba ‘sericea’
Siberian White willow
Salix alba ‘vitellina’
Golden willow
Salix alba ‘chermesina’
Red stemmed willow
not as popular
Siberian white willow
Popular for foliage colour, common for landscape
low-medium headed; rounded topped
can get a single trunk
less hardy than the laurel leaf
mostly multi-trunked
Siberian white willow- leaf
simple, alternate, lanceolate, acuminate tip, round base
grown for intensely silver leaves
green leaves covered in white hairs
finely serrate margin
Golden willow
popular for foliage colour, common for landscape here
very hardy
large
can tolerate high moisture levels
can have a weeping look due to length of new growth
big tree; wide
usually multi-trunked
younger stems quite golden
Golden willow- leaves
simple alternate
lanceolate, long acuminate tip, acute base
finely serrate margins
intensely golden new growth- identifiable
Sharp leaf willow
medium to large tree; low headed; large trunk
single trunk
Sharp leaf willow- bud
alternate buds
Sharp leaf willow- leaves
linear- elliptic- lanceolate leaves; finely serrate margins
5-10 cm long; 1.3 cm wide good indicator
leaves are slightly thinner so shape is a bit different
Pussy willow
fuzzy like cats
native
shrub or tree- depending on where it is grown
not commonly used as an ornamental other than floral arrangements
Pussy willow -leaves
oblong-narrowly elliptic, serrate
young leaves reddish otherwise bright green (pink reddish flush- identifier)
Willow- pest
stem galls are very common to numerous native willows
either on stem or on new growth
willow pinecone gall
caused by a midge
parasitic response
larvae growing in balls
Shrubs
leaves look quite different
needs good snow cover to survive winters
high water requirement
Salix salicola “Polar Bear”
Ornamental shrub
white “fuzzy” leaves
Salix exigua
Coyote willow/sandbar willow (native)
Sandbar willow
native
found along the river; found near water
suckers profusely hence why not common in landscape
long linear leaves with very slight serrations
used when other things won’t grow
hard to manage
Several shurb willows native to Sask
height to 2 m; width 1 m
tomentose leaves
opposite buds, curving towards stems
always identify them based on buds and consider where they are growing
Other willows seen on market
Salix babylonica- weeping willow
dwarf weeping willow- kilmarnock willow (more manipulated for specific ornamental planting)
