WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Stace 4:

Salix purpurea L. - Purple Willow.

Shrub 1.5-5m; twigs glabrous, yellowish to purplish-brown, more or less glossy; leaves often opposite to subopposite, (2)3-8(10) x 0.5-3cm, glabrous, or hairy at first, entire or obscurely serrate; stamen apparently 1; 2n=38. Native; damp places; scattered throughout British Isles, locally common, often planted, probably only introduced in Ireland. Var. or ssp. purpurea has linear-oblong to linear-oblanceolate more or less entire leaves. Plants with broader (oblanceolate to narrowly obovate) serrulate leaves are sometimes recognised as ssp. lambertiana (Sm.) Macreight, but many intermediates occur; on the Continent this is commoner in the lowlands, but it is very rare in British Isles. The fused stamens, appearing as 1, are diagnostic; hybrids of S. purpurea have either 2 free stamens or the filaments are fused only proximally.

Key:

• Wood of twigs without ridges under bark
• Leaves glabrous, >2x as long as wide
• Leaves glabrous to sparsely hairy on lowerside at maturity
• Leaves glabrous even when young, commonly opposite or subopposite; male flowers apparently with 1 stamen