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

Salix viminalis

Vernacular name:

Osier


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Osier

Scientific name: Salix viminalis L.

Diagnostic features
Erect shrub or small tree to 6(-10)m.
Twigs pubescent at first, becoming glabrous, rather dull, yellowish-brown to brown.
Leaves 10-15(18) x 0.5-1.5(2.5)cm, densely silky-pubescent on lowerside, dull and sparsely pubescent on upperside, with ± entire revolute margins.
Stamens free.

Chromosome number: 2n=38.

Habitat
Native; mostly damp places.

Distribution
Common in lowland British Isles, but perhaps not native in North & West.

This species is keyed out on Page 1640 in the Text Key.

Note
Several clones of Salix viminalis and of some of its hybrids are now being planted as short-rotation coppice for biomass production, and will become commoner in the wild. They are known mainly under cultivar names.

Hybrids
- See Salix mollissima(x) Hoffm. ex Elwert (= Salix triandra x Salix viminalis)
- See Salix rubra(x) Huds. (= Salixpurpurea x Salix viminalis)
- See Salix forbyana(x) Sm. (= Salix purpurea x Salix viminalis x Salix cinerea)
- Salix x taylorii Rech. f. (= Salix purpurea x Salix viminalis x Salix caprea x Salix cinerea) has been reported, with some doubt, from Angus; endemic.
- See Salix sericans(x) Tausch ex A. Kern. (= Salix viminalis x Salix caprea)
- See Salix calodendron(x) Wimm. (= Salix viminalis x Salix caprea x Salix cinerea)
- See Salix smithiana(x) Willd. (=Salix viminalis x Salix cinerea)
- Salix x angusensis Rech. f. (= Salix viminalis x Salix cinerea x Salix repens) occurs on sand-dunes in Angus and South & West Lancs; endemic.
- Salix x hirtei Strähler (= Salix viminalis x Salix cinerea x Salix aurita) has not been recorded from the wild in British Isles, but might occur; several cultivars are being planted for biomass production. Salix x hirtei, Salix calodendron(x) and Salix stipularis(x) form a perplexing group of hybrids.
- See Salix stipularis(x) Sm. (= Salix viminalis x Salix caprea x Salix aurita)
- See Salix fruticosa(x) Döll (= Salix viminalis x Salix aurita)
- Salix x seminigricans E.G. & A. Camus (= Salix viminalis x Salix myrsinifolia) was found in Mid Perth in 1985.
- Salix x friesiana Andersson (= Salix viminalis x Salix repens) occurs in South Lancs, Westmorland and Sutherland.

Salix viminalis (Osier)
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