Authors: C. Stace, R. van der Meijden (ed.) & I. de Kort (ed.)
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Scientific name:

Salix fragilis

Vernacular name:

Willow, Crack, Willow, Bedford


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Salix ehrhartiana(x) - Willow, Ehrhart's
Salix rubens(x) - Crack-willow, Hybrid
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Crack-willow

Scientific name: Salix fragilis L.

Diagnostic features
Tree to 25m.
Twigs very brittle at branches, often sparsely pubescent at first but glabrous later, pale brown.
Leaves 9-15 x 1.5-3(4)cm, at first sparsely pubescent, soon glabrous, ± glossy on upperside, glaucous on lowerside, more coarsely serrate than other taxa in Subgenus Salix.
Stamens 2(-3).

Chromosome number: 2n=76.

Habitat
Probablyintroduced-naturalized.

Distribution
Common in damp places over most of lowland British Isles, mostly planted.

This species is keyed out on Page 1621 and on Page 1623 in the Text Key.

Note
Variable; the commonest variant (Salix fragilis L. var. russelliana (Sm.) W.D.J. Koch is a female tree with long narrow leaves with rather uneven teeth.
- Salix fragilis L. var. furcata Ser. ex Gaudin is a male tree with forked catkins and rather wide leaves.
- Salix fragilis L. var. decipiens (Hoffm.) W.D.J. Koch is also male but has unbranched catkins and shiny very pale twigs.
All 3 are presumably of garden origin.
- Salix fragilis L. var. fragilis exists as both sexes and could be native in South Britain; the leaves are at first sparsely pubescent and have even serration.

Hybrids
- Salix x alopecuroides Tausch ex Opiz (= Salix fragilis x Salix triandra) (Synonym: Salix x speciosa Host) occurs very sparsely in Britain and Ireland; it is intermediate, with 2-3 stamens; female unknown.
- See Salix meyeriana(x) Rostk. ex Willd. (= Salix pentandra x Salix fragilis)
- See Salix rubens(x) Schrank (= Salix alba x Salix fragilis)
- See Salix pendulina(x) Wender. (= Salix fragilis x Salix babylonica L.)

Salix fragilis (Willow, Crack)
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Willow, Bedford
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