Dark-leaved Willow
Scientific name: Salix myrsinifolia Salisb.
Diagnostic features
Shrub to 4m, often much less.
Twigs densely pubescent at first, slowly becoming subglabrous, dull, brown or greenish.
Leaves 2-6.5 x 1.5-3.5cm, sparsely pubescent at first, becoming subglabrous, irregularly crenate-serrate.
Stamens free.
Chromosome number: 2n=114.
Habitat
Native; by ponds and streams and in damp rocky places.
Distribution
Frequent in North England and Scotland, formerly North Ireland, scattered introduced plants in Central & South Britain, but perhaps native in Central-east England.
This species is keyed out on Page 1600; on Page 1606 and on Page 1626 in the Text Key.
Hybrids
- Salix x beckiana Beck (= Salix purpurea x Salix myrsinifolia) occurs in Midwest Yorks and South Northumb.
- Salix x seminigricans E.G. & A. Camus (= Salix viminalis x Salix myrsinifolia) was found in Mid Perth in 1985.
- Salix x latifolia J. Forbes (= Salix caprea x Salix myrsinifolia)occurs in North Britain within the range of Salix myrsinifolia.
- Salix caprea x Salix myrsinifolia x Salix phylicifolia (Salix x phylicioides Druce nom. nud.) was found in Mid Perths in 1997 and Midwest Yorks in 2000; endemic.
- 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 coriacea J. Forbes (= Salix aurita x Salix myrsinifolia) occurs with the parents in North British Isles.
- Salix x saxetana F.B. White (= Salix aurita x Salix myrsinifolia x Salix phylicifolia) occurs with parents in South & Central Scotland.
- Salix x tetrapla Walker (= Salix myrsinifolia x Salix phylicifolia) (Synonym: Salix x tenuifolia Sm.) occurs commonly in North Britain and often completely links the parents wherever they meet; it occurs with Salix myrsinifolia over wide areas of Mid & East Perth, Angus and South Aberdeen where Salix phylicifolia is not (and is not known to have been) present.
- Salix myrsinifolia x Salix phylicifolia x Salix repens has been found in South Aberdeen, E Perths and Angus and doubtfully elsewhere in Scotland; endemic. Original records were of Salix phylicifolia x Salix repens, but Salix x tetrapla rather than Salix phylicifolia occurs in the area.
- Salix myrsinifolia x Salix phylicifolia x Salix arbuscula (= Salix x arbusculoides Druce nom. nud.) has been found in Mid Perth; endemic.
- Salix myrsinifolia x Salix phylicifolia x Salix myrsinites (= Salix x myrsinatoides Druce nom. nud.) occurs with the parents in Centraleast Scotland and probably includes plants from there previously named Salix phylicifolia x Salix myrsinites, since Salix x tetrapla rather than Salix phylicifolia occurs in the area.
- Salix myrsinifolia x Salix phylicifolia x Salix herbacea is possibly the parentage of plants found in West Perth in 1997.
- Salix x felina Buser ex E.G. & A. Camus (= Salix myrsinifolia x Salix repens) occurs with the parents in East Perth.
- Salix myrsinifolia x Salix lapponum (= Salix x dalecarlica auct. non Rouy) was recorded from Angus in 1892 but not confirmed; it was confirmed from S Aberdeen in 1959; endemic.
- Salix myrsinifolia x Salix arbuscula (= Salix x breadalbanensis Druce nom. nud.) is known from Mid Perth.
- Salix x punctata Wahlenb. (= Salix myrsinifolia x Salix myrsinites)occurs with the parents in Central Scotland. |
