Salix

Scientific name

Salix L.

Common names

willow

Family

Salicaceae

Native distribution

mainly temperatetemperate:
(adj) of the climatic zone between boreal and tropical
regions in the northern hemisphere

Species cultivated

At least 61 species and accepted hybrids plus numerous cultivated hybrids and varieties

Adventive distribution

worldwide

Weed status

known to be a significant weed in some countries

Habit

terrestrialterrestrial:
(adj) growing on land as opposed to living in water
to amphibiousamphibious:
(adj) of a plant able to live on land or in water
, or occasionally inundated shrubs or trees

Brief description

Clones sometimes formed by rhizomes; rhizomes branching sympodially. Leaves alternatealternate:
(adj) (of leaves) bearing one leaf per node; placed singly on the stem at different heights
, rarely oppositeopposite:
(adj) (of leaves) two leaves per node; in pairs on opposite sides of an axis
, deciduousdeciduous:
(adj) shedding of parts at the end of their growing period, as with leaves; those trees or shrubs that drop their leaves at the end of the season
or marcescentmarcescent:
(adj) withering but not falling off
, petiolatepetiolate:
(adj) relating to or in the form of a petiole; bearing petioles
, often stipulate; leaf bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
variously shaped, typically linear; margins entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
to toothed, often glandular. Catkins appearing before, with or after the leaves, sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
or on terminating branchlets, erect or spreading, rarely pendulous; each flower subtended by 1 floral bractbract:
(n) a modified leaf near a flower or inflorescence, often reduced, sometimes large and/or petaloid; also glumes, lemmas, and paleae of grass spikelets
. Perianthperianth:
(n) collective term for the calyx and corolla of a flower; also used for floral whorl(s) in which the calyx and corolla cannot be resolved; any of the leaves or bracts surrounding the sex organs of bryophytes
reduced to glands: 1 adaxialadaxial:
(adj) pertaining to the side facing toward the axis, as in the upper surface of a leaf
and 1 abaxialabaxial:
(adj) the side facing away from the axis, as in the underside of a leaf
or absent; male flower stamens 2 to many, filaments free or united; female flower sessilesessile:
(adj) attached directly, without a stalk
or stipitatestipitate:
(adj) borne on a stipe or stalk
, bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
, sometimes bifurcatebifurcate:
(adj) split into two
, stigmasstigma:
(n) the portion of the pistil that is receptive to pollen
2, entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
or each 2-lobed.

Natural habitat

permanently or seasonally wet, inundated or waterlogged sites; channels, ditches, riparianriparian:
(adj) growing by rivers or streams; of, adjacent to, or living on, the banks of a river, lake, pond, etc.
zones (creeks, springs, rivers, streams, ponds, lagoons, lakes), wetlands (fens, bogs, marshes, swamps), wet meadows, floodplains, wet tundra, and snowbeds

Additional comments

Salix is a large genus containing over 550 species and hybrids. Members of this genus are highly variable and there are many hybrids, making it difficult to identify particular species.