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

Salix cinerea

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Salix caprea subsp. sphacelata
Salix cinerea subsp. cinerea - Willow, Grey

Grey Willow

Scientific name: Salix cinerea L.

Diagnostic features
Shrub or small tree to 6(15)m.
Twigs densely pubescent at first, often becoming glabrous or nearly so, dark reddish-brown, dull.
Leaves 2-9(16) x 1-3(5)cm, pubescent to densely so on lowerside, subglabrous or sparsely pubescent on upperside, subentire to ± undulate-serrate.
Stamens free.

Habitat
Native.

This species is keyed out on Page 1632 in the Text Key.

Key to the subspecies:
a. Twigs usually ± persistently pubescent; leaves mostly obovate or oblong, dull and ± pubescent on upperside, densely grey-pubescent on lowerside.
.................................... Salix cinerea cinerea.
b. Twigs usually becoming glabrous; leaves mostly narrowly obovate or oblong, slightly glossy and usually nearly glabrous on upperside, grey-pubescent but with some stiff rust-coloured hairs on lowerside.
.................................. Salix cinerea oleifolia.


Hybrids
- 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.
- Salix x pontederiana Willd. (= Salix purpurea x Salix cinerea) (Synonym: Salix x sordida A. Kern.) is very scattered in Britain.
- Salix x confinis E.G. & A. Camus (= Salix purpurea x Salix cinerea x Salix aurita) has been recorded from M Perth.
- 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 mightoccur; 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 calodendron(x) Wimm. (= Salix viminalis x Salix caprea x Salix cinerea)
- See Salix smithiana(x) Willd. (=Salix viminalis x Salix cinerea)
- Salix x reichardtii A. Kern. (= Salix caprea x Salix cinerea) is common and variable, completely linking the parents; throughout most of British Isles, in many places commoner than Salix caprea.
- Salix x multinervis Döll (= Salix cinerea x Salix aurita) is scattered throughout most of British Isles on acid soils.
- Salix x forbesiana Druce (= Salix cinerea x Salix aurita x Salix myrsinifolia) has been found in South & Central Scotland.
- Salix cinerea x Salix myrsinifolia (= Salix x strepida J. Forbes non Schleich.) occurs with the parents in North & Central British Isles.
- Salix cinerea x Salix myrsinifolia x Salix phylicifolia (Salix x cinerioides Druce nom. nud.) was found in Midwest Yorks in 2000.
- Salix x subsericea Döll (= Salix cinerea x Salix repens) occurs rather rarely with the parents in Central & North Britain and very rarely in South Britain.

Salix cinerea
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Salix cinerea
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