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

Salix alba

Vernacular name:

Willow, White, Willow, Golden, Willow, Cricket-bat


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White Willow

Scientific name: Salix alba L.

Diagnostic features
Tree to 33m.
Twigs pubescent when young, becoming glabrous and ± glossy, brown, or yellowish to reddish (Salix alba L. var. vitellina (L.) Stokes).
Leaves 5-10(12) x 0.5-1.5cm, densely whitish-pubescent at first, becoming sparsely so at maturity, or 6-12 x 1.5-2.5cm and becoming ± glabrous on upperside at maturity (Salix alba L. var. caerulea (Sm.) Dumort.
Stamens 2.

Chromosome number: 2n=76.

Habitat
Possibly native; marshes, wet hollows and by streams and ponds.

Distribution
Common over most of lowland British Isles but mostly planted, rarer in West and North Scotland.

This species is keyed out on Page 1619 in the Text Key.

Note
Salix alba 'Britzensis' is a much planted cultivar of Salix alba L. var. vitellina (L.) Stokes with bright orange-red twigs.

Hybrids
- See Salix ehrhartiana(x) Sm. (= Salix pentandra x Salix alba)
- See Salix rubens(x) Schrank (= Salix alba x Salix fragilis)
- See Salix sepulcralis(x) Simonk. (= Salix alba x Salix babylonica)

Salix alba (Willow, White)
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Willow, Cricket-bat
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