Characteristic 11 continued one

Trees and shrubs with long narrow leaves, leaves not bitter-tasting .  (continued)

The group with these characteristics is divided into two: those without lower leaf hairs, and those with lower leaf hairs. Please note, at the beginning of the growing season, some species may initially have some hairiness, which, however, disappears later in the year. This is indicated. 

continued Without hairs on underside of leaf 

11o Twigs smooth and rounded or little edged; young leaves and twigs downy hairy, and remaining so for quite some time; leaves 5-6 times as long as wide, up to 10-12 cm L, 1.5-2 cm W; buttress leaves flared into a long, pointed tip, at the apex of the petiole two characteristic buttress-like appendages are seen on young leaves. (View young leaves at the tips of long shoots.) 

► to 11p

 See also comment under x mollissima

11p Stipule-like leaf appendages (pseudo-stipules) at the base of the young leaf blade later in the season. Young stems downy hairy; twigs becoming almost glabrous during the season; exclusively female clone; light-coloured shrub compared to the next clone; late in the season recognisable from afar by typical golden-yellow colouration. 

► Salix x mollissima var. undulata (S. triandra x S. viminalis) 

11q Often stipule-like leaf appendages (pseudo-stipules) at the base of the young leaf blade later in the season;  twigs remaining downy hairy during the season; from summer to winter, buds distinctly hairy; female clone only; rather dark coloured compared to the previous variety. Hairy and indented catkins bud twice as long as in undulata, best feature.

► Salix x mollissima var. mollissima (S. triandra x S. viminalis) 

11r Leaves first densely white-hairy but very soon balding; leaves longer than the other x mollissima, about the same length as the viminalis parent; leaf margin initially with very small teeth (glandular) but soon smooth and often somewhat rolled over; catkins are decisive for determination, bract catkins green at the base, white in the middle and speckled pink at the top; very white silky hairs on the catkins' scales; sometimes some female flowers mixed with male ones; catkins bearing twigs olive green, older ones grey brown. 

► Salix x mollissima var. hippophaefolia (S. triandra x S. viminalis) 

 Remark

The hybrid Salix x mollissima belongs to a cluster in which a whole series of artificially created hybrids belong that range in appearance from var. 'undulata' (more tending towards S. triandra) to the var. 'hippophaefolia' (more tending towards S. viminalis). The variety 'mollissima' is pretty much in the middle of that spectrum, yet tending slightly more towards S. viminalis partly because of the heavy hairs on buds and twigs.

11s The fragilis varieties (key determination catkins S. alba , S. x fragilis and S. euxina: see end of Appendix 9)

Most shiny leaf of the fragilis; leaf wider than 1.5 cm; widest width approximately in middle; stomata only on underside of leaf, sometimes also on upper side but clearly to a lesser extent; stipules inconspicuous, falling off early or absent; completely glabrous leaf except in young state; leaf margin toothed usually curved or rounded; twigs upright or erect; easily breaking off without bark coming with them; bare annual twigs characteristic ochre grey; extra bud scale and top of winter buds black after dying off; usually tree, up to 15 m H; sometimes several globular crowns.

► Salix euxina (formerly S. fragilis var. decipiens)

 https://youtube.com/shorts/zaKf6xsbiEA?feature=share

11t Leaf 9-15 cm L, 1.5-3 cm W, leaf narrower than 3 cm on young twigs; rapidly becomes glabrous; often affected by Marssonina fungus (leaf turns black in late fall); somewhat shiny; underside bluishly frosted; widest width in middle; stipules inconspicuous, dropping early and sometimes absent; leaf margin coarsely irregularly toothed; glandular top petiole; annual twigs differently coloured: green, olive green, brown, brown-purple or red-brown; twigs very easily breaking off at attachment point without bark coming with them. 

► Salix x fragilis var. fragilis (formerly S. fragilis var. fragilis) !!! see note species list nomenclature fragilis

11h Leaves similar to S. x fragilis var. fragilis, but somewhat longer and often with a long pointed narrow apex; upper surface not as shiny, rather dull green; characteristic green colour; underside less waxy frosted and not bluish; first rather hairy and then becoming glabrous; often toothed leaf margin; glands under the leaf base, especially near the long shoot, often develop leaf-like; more robust stipules, often toothed but not persistent; twigs do not break off easily (heel remains behind); more upright tree, rather high and narrow crown. In specimens deposited to the ground, the typical dark red colour is expressed in autumn on one- or two-year-old twigs. Female.

► Salix x fragilis var. russelliana (formerly S. fragilis var. russelliana)

11v Leaf dimensions: not as narrow as the other crack willows; large leaves, broad at top of fast-growing twigs; relatively short but at longleaf up to 4-6 cm W; main vein upper surface white-greenish; at first hairy but later sparse to almost glabrous; leaf margin conspicuous white tips on the irregular teeth; twigs very brittle, from shiny dark brown to green, olive green, brownish purple to reddish brown; male; part of the male catkins is sinuous and sometimes branched (check several catkins). 

► Salix x fragilis var. furcata (formerly S. fragilis var. furcata)

11w Leaf 8-15 cm L; 1.5-3 cm W; hairs on leaf upper and lower surface sparse to glabrous later in the season, some hairs persistent on lower surface; leaf colour green upper and lower surface bluish; coarsely and irregularly toothed; annual twigs yellow, orange or red; very brittle twigs; bud scales not black in winter.

► Salix x fragilis var. vitellina

11x Leaf 9-15 cm L; wider than 1.5 cm; long pointed tip, greatest width in the middle; upper surface somewhat shiny; young leaves hairy until mid-season, then sparse to almost glabrous; leaf margin finely or coarsely toothed along its entire length; inconspicuous stipules falling off early; twigs 1-year yellow-orange, first somewhat hairy then almost glabrous; 1-and 2-year olds easily decomposing without bark. 

► Salix x fragilis var. vitellina f. basfordiana (S. alba x S. euxina) !!! formerly: Salix x rubens var. basfordiana forma basfordiana

 (see comparison basfordiana-sanguinea below)

11y Leaf < 9 cm L, shorter tapered than basfordiana; long pointed tip, greatest width in the middle; upper surface somewhat shiny; young leaves hairy until mid-season, then sparse to almost glabrous; leaf margin finely or coarsely toothed along its entire length; inconspicuous stipules falling off early; tips of 1-year-old twigs orange-red, first somewhat hairy then almost glabrous; 1- and 2-year-old twigs easily breaking off without bark. 

► Salix x fragilis var. vitellina f. sanguinea (S. alba x S. euxina) !!! formerly: Salix x rubens var. basfordiana forma sanguinea

 (see comparison basfordiana-sanguinea below)