Characteristic 10

Shrub or small tree with shiny leaves. 

 10a Glossy green leaves, elliptic-ovate with pointed apex and wedge-shaped base, with very fine regular serration throughout; 5-12 cm L, 2-5 cm W; paler underside, glabrous, not bluishly frosted, rather stiff-leathery to the touch; top petiole clothed; stipules fall off; young twigs smooth and shiny, green, dark brown or even reddish; does not break off easily at attachment point; buds conspicuously narrow, pointed, reddish-dark brown and sticky; male flower with 5-6 stamens; very long stalk (up to 37mm) with leaves attached; mature ♀ catkins in late spring or early summer. Often confused with following taxon.

 ► Salix pentandra 

 In contrast to the following taxon, it has no galls on the leaves.

10b Leaves narrowly oblong lanceolate, elliptic-ovate or oval; somewhat leathery; (5)-7-12-(14) cm L, (1.5)-2-3 cm W; base round or wedge-shaped; apex long pointed, +/- curved; leaf margin irregularly to regularly serrate, distance between tooth (1)-1.5-3 mm; underside of leaf pale green (rarely grey-green) and glabrous; petioles 10-15 mm L, with 4-12 conspicuous often elongated glands below the stem tip; stipules persistent; the +/- sticky twigs rather easily breaking off at the point of attachment. Black buds in winter. Often confused with previous taxon.

► Salix x meyeriana (S. euxina x S. pentandra) 

 May have galls on the leaves.

See also Appendix 10

10c Leaves elliptic oval; widest width above centre; 4-7.2 cm L; 1.8-3.3 cm W; upper surface shiny pale green in long shoot, dark green in short shoot; white-rose main vein upper surface; lower surface blue-green; small stipules about 1.5 mm in long shoot; upper surface sparsely hairy, a few reddish hairs along the main vein; lower surface grey adjacent hairy; leaf margin faintly serrate, sharper towards the apex; 'thick' leaf edge (along lower view); twigs dark brown, somewhat purplish; sparsely hairy (longlot more hairy). 

► Salix x erdingeri  syn. x hungarica (S. caprea x S. daphnoides)