Characteristic 12

Leaves turning black when dried

12a Thin and papery to the touch; 2-6.5 cm L, 1.5-3.5 cm W; round to ovate, upper surface somewhat glossy dark green, underside sea-green, the sea-green often disappearing towards the leaf tip, on shaded leaves green on both sides; hairs initially sparse-thin then becoming almost glabrous except for the main vein underneath which remains hairy; leaf tip short sharply pointed, base wedge-shaped or rounded; leaf margin rarely entire, rather irregularly serrated; petiole < 1cm; stipules variable but usually present, if present ear-shaped and normally hairy with a few small scattered glands, blackening stipules in autumn; a dozen or so circa 2 mm long striae on 10 cm of debarked twig; catkins at the same time as the leaves in the second half of April or in May; twigs dull brown or greenish, usually downy; not easily breakable to adhesion; many branches are at 90° angles; 2-5 m H mostly shrub, rare tree. 

► Salix myrsinifolia (syn. S. nigricans) 

12b Leaves which, besides turning black when withered, also taste very bitter; leaves and twigs glabrous; bark inside yellow; leaves occasionally, and especially at twig tops, quasi-opposite.   

► 12c to 12f 

12c Leaves between inversely ovate and spatulate; widest leaf width distinctly above the centre; leaves of rapidly growing annual twigs are often longer with more parallel margins; leaf margin usually smooth-edged below but often very finely toothed at the leaf tip.

► Salix purpurea ssp. lambertiana   

Crosses between the two species (8a and 8b) are possible. There are also many cultivated varieties where differences in characteristics are possible. 

 12d Leaves narrow, linear-elongated, entire margin to nearly entire margin but the top usually finely toothed; with more or less parallel margins. 

► Salix purpurea ssp. purpurea   

Crosses between the two species (8a and 8b) are possible. Also, there are many cultivated varieties where differences in characteristics are possible. 

 12e Small narrow leaves, (11)-15-18-20-22-(40) mm L, 4-5-7 mm W; petiole 2-5 mm L and reddened, leaf shape linear, greatest width above middle, white median vein top, leaf margin red-clipped, pointed tip, wedge-shaped leaf base, underside blue-washed; few opposite; young twigs reddened on sun side; older twigs greyish brown; no mouldings but some dots. 

► Salix purpurea 'Nana' 

12f Leaves at first still hairy but towards summer balding or weakly hairy on both sides; 4-13 cm L, 6-15 mm W; leaf margin flat or slightly recurved; weakly toothed to entire; sometimes fine toothed at apex; twigs rounded, never flattened; characteristics dependent on the parent plant either S. purpurea or S. viminalis; large group of cultivated varieties that may differ somewhat. 

► Salix x rubra (S. purpurea x S. viminalis) 

12g Leaf has greatest width at one-third of apex; 6-13 cm L; 12-28 mm W; with magnifying glass hairy to see underside of leaf; smooth leaf margin in lower third, finely toothed in upper two thirds; leaves turn black on withering; stipules inconspicuous and dropping early, sometimes absent; the debarked brown twigs are yellowish; twigs are upright to erect; 2-4 m H. 

► Salix x leiophylla (S. purpurea x S. triandra) 

12h Leaves oblong-elliptical or inversely ovate; 4-7 cm L, 1.5-2.5 cm W; upper surface of leaves first pale downy, soon glabrous and glossy green; lower surface ash-grey and slightly downy or glabrous with some hairs on the veins; bitter taste; leaf tip sharp or pointed; leaf margin irregular and sharply serrate with glandular teeth, or somewhat entire; nervature often rather conspicuous and reticulate; short petiole rarely > 5mm L; stipules narrowly ear-shaped, sharp, with glandular teeth in on edge, falling off or absent; weak twigs, at first slightly downy soon glabrous and shiny reddish-brown; striae 4 to 7 mm long; branched shrub up to 5 m H. 

► Salix x dichroa ( S. aurita x S. purpurea) 

12i Many branched glabrous, rather glossy reddish-brown twigs; leaves at first densely silky but soon glabrous; above bright green shine, underside distinct sea-green haze; some leaves opposite; leaves turn black on desiccation; leaves oblong 2-4 cm L, 0.5-1.3 cm W, with abruptly sharp or almost tipped apex; leaf margin serrate or somewhat smooth and narrowly recurved; petioles very short or almost absent; rarely stipules. Stamens usually Y-shaped. 

► Salix x doniana (S. purpurea x S. repens)

12j Resembles purpurea but has broader leaves. Shrubs up to 3 m tall; bark greyish green. Twigs yellowish or reddish, glabrous, shiny. Buds yellowish brown to reddish, ovate, glabrous, sharp tip, resting against the twig. Leaves slightly opposite or opposite, sometimes in whorls of 3 on long shoot; short petiole or almost unstemmed, sometimes somewhat encrusting; leaf elliptic-elongated, 2-5 x 1-2 cm; upper and lower surface pale green, glabrous, base rounded or obtuse, leaf margin flawless or sharply toothed towards apex; apex shortly pointed; distinct central vein, light brown, reddish-brown when not yet mature. Catkins appear before leaves. Catkins 1-2 (-2.5) cm, with petals at base; bracts brown to almost black, inverted ovoid, downy, rarely glabrous. Male flower: 2 fused stamens, glabrous; anthers red to dull red. Female flower: stigma long ovoid, downy, almost unstemmed; short style; stigma red, 2-4-lobed. Box fruit 2-3 mm, hairy. Blooms from May to June.

► Salix amplexicaulis