33.) SALICACEAE - Willow family - Pages

33.) SALICACEAE - Willow family

SALICACEAE - Willow family

POPULUS L.

Populus alba L. (White Poplar) / Woodland Uncommon Widely planted and naturalised in woods and hedgerows; often suckering far and wide.
Populus alba x P. tremula = P. x canescens (Aiton) Sm. (Grey Poplar) / Woodland Uncommon Widely planted and naturalised as for White Poplar but less common and more often encountered besides water courses and only sometimes producing suckers.
Populus tremula L. (Aspen) /- Woodland Uncommon Widespread in damp woods, hedgerows and besides water courses. Also often planted away from these habitats.
Populus nigra L. (Black-poplar) / General Frequent Widely planted for ornament and as a shelter belt. The map probably also represents records of Hybrid Black-poplar as well.
ssp. betulifolia (Pursh) W. Wettst. ex Buttler & Hand. Wetland Very Rare A very rare tree in our area; sparsely scattered over the region besides watercourses, usually in small numbers and probably always originally planted.
'Italica' (Lombardy-poplar) / General Uncommon Widely planted for ornament and as a shelter belt. Also often found in hedgerows, woodland and beside watercourses.
'Gigantea' (Giant Lombardy-poplar) General Very Rare Recorded to the north of the region at Rockhampton in 2020s by ? [BSBI record].
Populus nigra x P. deltoides = P. x canadensis Moench (Hybrid Black-poplar) /- General Uncommon The most frequently planted Poplar in the region; occurring in parks, hedgerows, woodland and often forming avenues alongside water courses.
'Serotina' (Black-Italian Poplar) General Uncommon The most widely occurring cultivar; originating from a hybrid between P. nigra ssp. nigra and P. deltoides. A locally famous tree known as the 'Poet's Tree' once stood on Observatory Hill near St. Vincent's Rocks - where "Mr. Gabbitas had a stall for the sale of his effusions." (White, 1912). It was felled in the 1970s but continued to send up suckers for some time afterwards until it was eventually destroyed by the council.
Populus nigra 'Italica' *x P. laurifolia = P. x berolinensis* (K. Koch) Dippel (Berlin Poplar) General Very Rare Was found at Bath in 2010s by ? [BSBI record] and at Keynsham Memorial Park in 2022 by D. Peters.
Populus deltoides x P. balsamifera = P. x jackii Sarg. (P. x ontariensis Loisel.) (Balm-of-Gilead) General Very Rare A rarely planted tree on damp roadsides and banks of streams; spreading by suckers (usually as the cultivar 'Gileadensis'). Only recently recorded at Langford, North Somerset in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

[There are other more historic records on BSBI]

Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray ex Hook. (P. tristis Fisch.) (Western Balsam-poplar) General Very rare A very rare introduction found planted in hedgerows and woodland.
Populus trichocarpa x P. balsamifera = P. x hastata Dode (Hybrid Balsam-poplar) General Very Rare Recorded at South Bristol in 2010s by ? and at Compton Dando in 2020s by ? [BSBI records].
Populus balsamifera L. (Eastern Balsam-poplar) General Rare Widely planted for ornament around Bristol and very sparsely recorded elsewhere.

SALIX L.

Section SALIX

Salix pentandra L. (Bay Willow) 1963 / - Wetland Very Rare First recorded from the Bath area in pre- 1930s by ? and 1963 by ? [BSBI records]. More recently recorded at Avonmouth, Hengrove and Hartcliffe (planted in parks) in 2000 by R. Bland; at Yate in 2010s by ?; Batheaston in 2010s by ? [BSBI records]; and at Badock's Wood, Westbury-on-Trym (probably planted) in 2022 by D. Peters.
Salix euxina I.V. Belyaeva (Eastern Crack-willow) Wetland Very Rare Mentioned by White (1912) under S. fragilis var. decipiens: "The late Rev. W. H. Painter had it from Lock's Mills, Bedminster, a gathering approved and quoted by Dr. Buchanan White. I have seen it in N. Somerset on Kenn Moor; and in W. Gloucestershire on the Broad Mead, Filton, and near Winterbourne and Charfield". A tree identified as this was found beside a rhyne at Clevedon Moor in 2022 by D. Peters during a SRPG meeting. It is possibly overlooked elsewhere for S. x fragilis - from which it differs in having glabrous twigs and leaves (not sparsely hairy [at least on leaf margins]) from the start.

[I'm having some doubts about my record now - needs checking]

Salix euxina x S. alba x S. triandra = S. x alopecuroides Tausch ex Opiz (S. × speciosa Host) (Eastern Crack x White x Almond Willow) Wetland Extinct Historically recorded from a footpath between Keynsham and Brislington in 1920 and between Keynsham and Compton Dando in 1932 by C.I. Sandwith.
Salix euxina x S. alba = S. x fragilis L. (S. fragilis L.) (Hybrid Crack-willow) / Wetland Frequent The plant formerly known as Crack Willow. Frequent alongside watercourses; mostly in the lowlands north of Bristol. Often planted but also regenerating clonally by fallen twigs sent down stream and rarely by seed. The following three variants have been recorded but only the hybrid is mapped.
var. russelliana (Sm.) W.D.J. Koch (Bedford Willow) / Wetland Scarce Rarely recorded but appears to be widespread and is probably overlooked. It is particularly frequent along parts of the River Frome as recorded by D. Peters. A female tree, Identified by its long, narrow, finely acuminate leaves (up to 15 cm) with uneven serrations.
var. furcata Ser. ex Gaudin Wetland Extinct Only recorded once in our region - at Lord's Wood in 1985 by M.W.J. Paskin and determined by R.D. Meikle. It has not been encountered since. A male tree, identified by its broad leaves (often 3 cm or more) and forked catkins.
var. fragilis Wetland Frequent The nominate plant and the most frequent variant of Hybrid Crack-willow. Both male and female trees occur.
var. rubens (Schrank) P.D. Sell. (S. x rubens Schrank) Wetland Extinct Historically recorded at Ashley Hill in 1937 by C.I. Sandwith and at Thornbury, Elwes & Henry, VII, 1757 (Riddelsdell, 1948). According to the Flora of the Bristol Region (2000), last recorded in 1984.
Salix euxina x S. alba x S. babylonica = S. x pendulina Wender. (Weeping Crack-willow) General Very Rare Recorded at Yate in 2013 by P. Sturgess and at Thornbury in 2020s by ? [BSBI record].

[2013 record needs investigating]

Salix alba L. (White Willow) /- Wetland Locally common along watercourses; particularly frequent in the coastal lowlands but almost always in lower numbers than Hybrid Crack-willow. Also often planted for ornament. In Gloucestershire it is also known as Sally or Sally-tree (Riddelsdell, 1948).
var. alba The nominate type and to which most of the species records refer.
var. caerulea (Sm.) Dumort. (Cricket-bat Willow) Wetland Very Rare Recorded at Walton in Gordano in 1990s by ? and at Winford in 2010s by ? [BSBI records]. Historically noted "Near Bristol, Thwaites" (Riddelsdell, 1948).
var. vitellina (L.) Stokes (Golden Willow) / Wetland Very Rare Recorded at Tortworth in 1990s by ? [BSBI record]. Its bright orange-red-twigged cultivar 'Britzensis' was found at Bullock Farm Lake, near Kingston Seymour in 2016 by B. Fleetwood and at Keysham Memorial Park in 2022 by D. Peters.

[There appears to be 4 records in FOTBR]

Salix alba x S. babylonica = S. x sepulcralis Simonk. nothovar. chrysocoma (Dode) Meikle (Weeping Willow) / General Widely planted in parks and estates; often around lakes as a focal point. This is the form with yellowish twigs but nothovar. sepulcralis with brownish twigs may also occur.

[Old record of Salix x sepulcralis 'chrysocoma' from 1939 belongs here.]

Salix babylonica L. (Babylon Weeping Willow) General Rare - [also 2 records of S. matsudana which now refers to S. babylonica f. pekinensis 'Tortuosa'] The original Weeping Willow, much mistaken for S. x sepulcralis - from which it differs in its short nearly stalkless catkins. Recorded from ST56 in 1990s by ? and Saltford in 1990s by ? [BSBI records]. The Contorted Willow, f. pekinensis 'Tortuosa' is now much planted in gardens.

[Many records from around Bristol will refer to S. x sepulcralis]

Salix triandra L. (ssp. triandra) (Almond Willow) Wetland Scattered over the region along watercourses, in withy beds and in damp hedgerows. Formerly planted for basket making. The var. hoffmanniana with a more dwarf much-branched habit, smaller leaves which are shinier above and less glaucous below and with flaking bark, is also mentioned in past texts but is rarely recognised today.
Salix triandra x S. viminalis = S. x mollissima Hoffm. ex Elwert (Sharp-stipuled Willow) Wetland Very Rare A very rare Willow. See the two variants for further details.
var. hippophaifolia (Thuill.) Wimm. Wetland Extinct Recorded from rhyne banks at Nye in 1985 by E.J. McDonnell and R. FitzGerald but not encountered since.
var. undulata (Ehrh.) Wimm. Wetland Very Rare Recorded at Tickenham Moor in 1985 by P. Rooney and recently from Nailsea Moor in 2023, during a BNS meeting - determined by H.J. Crouch and confirmed by J. Webb. It is also planted in the region as a biomass crop.

Section VETRIX Dumort.

Salix purpurea L. ssp. purpurea (Purple Willow) / Wetland Rare A very rare native willow; occurring besides ponds, ditches and rhynes. In most cases probably originally planted. It was historically more widespread.
Salix purpurea x S. cinerea = S. x pontederiana (Purple x Grey Willow) Wetland Very Rare Found at Walton Moor in 2025 by D. Peters. Historically recorded from Long Ashton, North Somerset in 1886 by J.W. White.

[Specimen of 1886 record on BSBI Herbaria United]

Salix purpurea x S. viminalis = S. x rubra Huds. (Green-leaved Willow) Wetland Very Rare A very rare hybrid, recorded from a rhyne bank at Nye, North Somerset in 1985 by E.J. McDonnell; Thornbury in 2010s by ?; and at Oldbury in 2020s by ? [BSBI records]. Historically also mentioned from Horfield, Bristol (Swete, 1853).
Salix purpurea x S. viminalis x S. cinerea = S. x forbyana Sm. (Fine Osier) Wetland Very Rare Recorded on the edge of the region near Winscombe in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

[Probably not within the region's boundaries]

Salix daphnoides Vill. (European Violet-willow) General Rare A rare introduction; widely but thinly planted around Bristol; elsewhere only recorded at Yanal Bog near Sandford in 1998 by S.J. Parker. First recorded on the edge of the grounds of Fox Hospital [now Long Fox Manor], between Brislington and Keynsham in 1934 by C.I. Sandwith.
Salix viminalis L. (Osier) / Wetland Uncommon Frequently occurring besides watercourses and in damp hedgerows and withy beds; also widely planted.

It is a favourite food plant of the ellusive Giant Willow Aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus) - [put elsewhere in an article].

Salix elaeagnos Scop. (Olive Willow) General Very Rare First recorded by Bath Road on the grounds of Fox Hospital [now Long Fox Manor], Brislington in 1936 by C.I. Sandwith; and more recently from Newton St Loe in 2010s by ? and East Bristol in 2010s by ? [BSBI records].
Salix viminalis x S. caprea = S. x smithiana Willd. (S. x sericans Tausch ex A. Kern.) (Broad-leaved Osier) / General Very Rare A very rare hybrid; recently recorded at ST56Y in 2010s by ?; ST66X in 2010s by ?; Bath in 2020s by ? [BSBI records]; and in a hedgerow at Lawrence Weston Moor in 2022 by D. Peters.
Salix viminalis x S. caprea x S. cinerea = S. x calodendron Wimm. (Holme Willow) General Extinct Found on the bank of a rhyne near Hutton in 1990 by A.G. Smith but not recorded in the region since.
Salix viminalis x S. cinerea = S. x holosericea Willd. (S. x smithiana auct. non Willd.) (Silky-leaved Osier) General Very Rare A very rare hybrid; recently recorded from Frampton Cotterell in 2010 by C. & M.A.R. Kitchen; by a field pond near Winford (probably planted) in 2014 by M. Webster; and at Horton in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].
Salix viminalis x S. aurita = S. x fruticosa Döll (Shrubby Osier) General Extinct Reported (but unconfirmed) from north of Dunsdown Lane, West Littleton in 1985 by R. Cross and S. Reed but not recorded in the region since.

[Is it A.S. Reed or just S. Reed]

Salix caprea L. ssp. caprea (Goat Willow) / Woodland Frequent Frequent in woodland, scrub and hedgerows in drier situations than most willows require but it is probably often misidentified for its hybrid with Grey Willow (see next account).
Salix caprea x S. cinerea = S. x reichardtii A. Kern. (Goat x Grey Willow) General Ecological expertise suggests it is the region's most common willow - which is an unusual case for a hybrid; frequent in woods, scrub and hedgerows in drier situations but also in wet places besides watercourses. It is a strong colonist of disturbed ground. Better recorded now but still overlooked for the Goat Willow parent and probably many of its records should belong here. The recognition of it was only realised around the time of the initiation of the Avon Flora Project in 1985 when recording for the Flora of the Bristol Region (2000). Very variable in appearance due to its ability to backcross to either parent but is identified by
Salix caprea x S. aurita = S. x capreola Jos. Kern. ex Andersson (Goat x Eared Willow) 1958 General Historically recorded from Coalpit Heath and Engine Common, Rangeworthy in 1917 by I.M. Roper, B.E.C., 1917 (p. 248), (Riddelsdell, 1948) and at an unknown location in 1958 according to the Flora of the Bristol Region (2000).

[Cannot locate 1958 record in Bristol Botany in 1958]

Salix cinerea (Grey Willow) / General Frequent Frequent throughout the region besides ponds, lakes and other watercourses; particularly along the coastal lowlands, and around Chew and Gordano Valleys.
ssp. cinerea General Very Rare The nominate type, though very rare within our region. Confirmed for the first time locally when a shrub was found colonised at the base of a fallen Lime tree (self-seeded from a nearby garden source) at Horfield Common, Bristol in 2025 by D. Peters. It is possibly overlooked. Identified by its persistently hairy twigs, and leaves which are usually broader, less narrowly obovate, dull and hairy on the upperside, and densely grey-hairy on the underside with no rust-coloured hairs.
ssp. oleifolia Macreight (Rusty Willow) General Frequent The common plant with the same status and distribution as the species. Identified by its narrowly obovate to oblong leaves which are more or less glabrous on the upperside, appearing slightly glossy and with some rust-coloured hairs on the undersides, and twigs becoming glabrous.
Salix cinerea x S. aurita = S. x multinervis Döll (Grey x Eared Willow) 1921 General Very Rare Only recorded recently at Kenn Moor in 2010s by ? [BSBI record] and historically from Yate in 1914 and Shirehampton Marsh in 1919 (Riddelsdell, 1948); and ST78 in the 1960s by ? [BSBI record].
Salix aurita L. (Eared Willow) 1931 General Very Rare Recently recorded by a ditch behind a sea wall at Uphill (planted) in 2014 by H.J. Crouch; and at Portishead in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

[Records from Avonmouth, 2002 and near Puxton, 2004 by L. Moor are doubtful.]

Salix repens L. (Creeping Willow) 1984 Grassland / Coasts Recorded at ST45T in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].
var. repens Grassland Very Rare The nominate form found in damp heathy grassland. Only recently recorded at ST45T in 2010s by ? [BSBI record]; formerly more widespread.
var. argentea (Sm.) Wimm. & Grab. Coasts Very Rare Occurs on the dunes at Berrow [outside our region].

[There's an old pre-1930s BSBI record overlapping the region - check if within.]

List:

Populus alba L. (White Poplar) / Woodland
Populus alba x P. tremula = P. x canescens (Aiton) Sm. (Grey Poplar) / Woodland
Populus tremula L. (Aspen) /- Woodland
Populus nigra L. ssp. betulifolia (Pursh) W. Wettst. ex Buttler & Hand. (Black-poplar) / General
Populus nigra 'Italica' Münchh. (Lombardy-poplar) / General
Populus nigra 'Gigantea' (Giant Lombardy-poplar) - 1 BSBI record General
Populus nigra x P. deltoides = P. x canadensis Moench (Hybrid Black-poplar) /- General
Populus 'Serotina' (Black-Italian Poplar) General
Populus nigra 'Italica' x P. laurifolia = P. x berolinensis (K. Koch) Dippel (Berlin Poplar) General Very Rare
Populus deltoides x P. balsamifera = P. x jackii Sarg. (P. x ontariensis Loisel. - Kew) ('Gileadensis' - Stace) (Balm-of-Gilead) General
Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray ex Hook. (P. tristis Fisch. - Kew) (Western Balsam-poplar) General
Populus trichocarpa x P. balsamifera = P. x hastata Dode (Hybrid Balsam-poplar) - 2 BSBI records General
Populus balsamifera L. (Eastern Balsam-poplar) General
Salix pentandra L. (Bay Willow) 1963 / - recorded by myself at Badocks Wood Wetland
Salix euxina I.V. Belyaeva (Eastern Crack-willow) Wetland
Salix euxina x S. alba x S. triandra = S. x alopecuroides Tausch ex Opiz (S. × speciosa Host - Kew) (Eastern Crack x White x Almond Willow) Wetland
Salix euxina x S. alba = S. x fragilis L. (Stace, NBN) S. x rubens Schrank (old name) (Hybrid Crack-willow) 1984 / - recorded by myself (var. russelliana - Bedford Willow) - see below Wetland
Salix euxina x S. alba = S. x fragilis L. (Stace, NBN) Salix fragilis L. (old name) (Crack-willow) / Wetland
Salix euxina x S. alba = S. x fragilis L. var. russelliana (Sm.) W.D.J. Koch (Stace) Salix fragilis var. russelliana (Sm.) W.D.J. Koch (Bedford Willow) / Wetland
Salix euxina x S. alba = S. x fragilis L. var. furcata Ser. ex Gaudin (Stace) Salix fragilis var. furcata Ser. ex Gaudin Wetland
Salix euxina x S. alba = S. x fragilis L. var. fragilis (Stace) Salix fragilis L. var. fragilis Wetland
Salix euxina x S. alba = S. x fragilis L. var. rubens (Schrank) P.D. Sell. Wetland - [formerly recorded as S. x rubens]
Salix euxina x S. alba x S. babylonica = S. x pendulina Wender. (Weeping Crack-willow) General
Salix alba L. (var. caerulea (Sm.) Dumort. - Stace - Cricket-bat Willow, var. alba? - NBN) (White Willow) /- Wetland
Salix alba L. var. vitellina (L.) Stokes (Golden Willow) / Wetland
Salix alba x S. babylonica = S. x sepulcralis Simonk. (nothovar. chrysocoma (Dode) Meikle (with yellowish twigs definitely occurs, check for nothovar. sepulcralis - with brownish twigs - probably occurs) - Stace (NBN) (Weeping Willow) / General
Salix babylonica L. (Babylon Weeping Willow) General - [also 2 records of S. matsudana which now refers to S. babylonica f. pekinensis 'Tortuosa']
Salix triandra L. (ssp. triandra - Kew, GBIF) (Almond Willow) Wetland
Salix triandra x S. viminalis = S. x mollissima Hoffm. ex Elwert (var. - Stace) nothovar. (NBN) hippophaifolia (Thuill.) Wimm. - Stace, NBN (Sharp-stipuled Willow) Wetland
Salix triandra x S. viminalis = S. x mollissima Hoffm. ex Elwert (var. - Stace) nothovar. (NBN) undulata (Ehrh.) Wimm. (Sharp-stipuled Willow) Wetland
Salix purpurea L. (ssp. purpurea - Stace) (Purple Willow) / Wetland
Salix purpurea x S. cinerea = S. x pontederiana (Purple x Grey Willow) Wetland
Salix purpurea x S. viminalis = S. x rubra Huds. (Green-leaved Willow) Wetland
Salix purpurea x S. viminalis x S. cinerea = S. x forbyana Sm. (Fine Osier) Wetland - 1 BSBI record
Salix daphnoides Vill. (European Violet-willow) General
Salix viminalis L. (Osier) / Wetland
Salix elaeagnos Scop. (Olive Willow) General
Salix viminalis x S. caprea = S. x smithiana Willd. (Stace, NBN) S. x sericans Tausch ex A. Kern. (old name) (Broad-leaved Osier) / General
Salix viminalis x S. caprea x S. cinerea = S. x calodendron Wimm. (Holme Willow) General
Salix viminalis x S. cinerea = S. x holosericea Willd. (Stace, NBN) S. x smithiana auct. non Willd. (old name) (Silky-leaved Osier) General
Salix viminalis x S. aurita = S. x fruticosa Döll (Shrubby Osier) General - 1 record
Salix caprea L. ssp. caprea (Goat Willow) / Woodland
Salix caprea x S. cinerea = S. x reichardtii A. Kern. (Goat x Grey Willow) General
Salix caprea x S. aurita = S. x capreola Jos. Kern. ex Andersson (Stace, NBN) (Goat x Eared Willow) 1958 General
Salix cinerea ssp. oleifolia Macreight (Grey Sallow / Grey Willow / Rusty Willow - NBN) / General
Salix cinerea x S. aurita = S. x multinervis Döll (Stace, NBN) (Grey x Eared Willow) 1921 General
Salix aurita L. (Eared Willow) 1931 General
Salix repens L. (var. repens and var. argentea (Sm.) Wimm. & Grab. - Stace, NBN) (Creeping Willow) 1984 Grassland / Coasts

Species to add:

Populus nigra 'Gigantea' (Giant Lombardy-poplar) - 1 BSBI record General
Populus 'Serotina' (Black-Italian Poplar) General
Populus nigra 'Italica' x P. laurifolia = P. x berolinensis (K. Koch) Dippel (Berlin Poplar) General
Populus trichocarpa x P. balsamifera = P. x hastata Dode (Hybrid Balsam-poplar) - 2 BSBI records General
Populus balsamifera L. (Eastern Balsam-poplar) General
Salix euxina I.V. Belyaeva (Eastern Crack-willow) Wetland
Salix euxina x S. alba x S. triandra = S. x alopecuroides Tausch ex Opiz (S. × speciosa Host - Kew) (Eastern Crack x White x Almond Willow) Wetland
Salix euxina x S. alba = S. x fragilis L. var. rubens (Schrank) P.D. Sell. Wetland - [formerly recorded as S. x rubens]
Salix euxina x S. alba x S. babylonica = S. x pendulina Wender. (Weeping Crack-willow) General
Salix babylonica L. (Babylon Weeping Willow) General - [also 2 records of S. matsudana which now refers to S. babylonica f. pekinensis 'Tortuosa']
Salix purpurea x S. cinerea = S. x pontederiana (Purple x Grey Willow) Wetland Very Rare
Salix purpurea x S. viminalis x S. cinerea = S. x forbyana Sm. (Fine Osier) Wetland - 1 BSBI record
Salix elaeagnos Scop. (Olive Willow) General
Salix viminalis x S. aurita = S. x fruticosa Döll (Shrubby Osier) General - 1 record