Characteristic 2

Bark on older stems flaking off so that orange spots remain on the stem.  

The group Salix triandra incl. hybrids has a distinctive scent when the bark of the annual twigs is removed. Some authors believe they recognise a rose scent. 

(see: https://www.wildlifebcn.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/Salix_key%20expanded%20v2.0%202017.pdf)

2a Shrubs or small trees; young twigs edgy and smooth; leaves 3-12 (-17) cm L, 1-3 (-4) cm W, underneath either bluish-green or green, only very youngest leaves hairy, thereafter very soon glabrous and somewhat leathery; stipules pointed or short pointed, sometimes blunt or rounded; not always persistent. Male flowers with 3 stamens.

► to Salix triandra taxa from 2c 

2b Shrubs or small trees, twigs smooth and rounded or little edged; young leaves and twigs downy hairy, and this persistent 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, sometimes at the apex of the petiole two characteristic buttress-like appendages (pseudo-stipules) are seen on mature leaves. (View young leaves at the tips of longleaves.) 

► to Salix x mollissima taxa 2 l 

2c Annual twigs greenish-yellow (view twig ends on sunlight side); supporting leaves large and very conspicuous, kidney-shaped; mainly female plants. 

► Salix triandra 'Groene reins' ('Green twig bark' and 'Yellow twig bark' in the Biesbosch Netherlands)

2d Annual twigs olive green (view twig ends on the light side). Male and female plants are possible.   

► Salix triandra residual group (the Dutch clone 'Langbroeks grauw' belongs to this group)

2e Annual twigs brown or grey-brown (view twig ends on the light side). 

► 2f 

2f Annual twigs coffee-milky brown; male clone or clone group; rather low, highly branched shrub. 

► Salix triandra clone 'Koffiekleur' ('Coffee-coloured')

2g Annual twigs dark, chocolate-coloured brown; female clone or clone group; fairly tall, not overly branched shrub.   

► Salix triandra clone 'Chocolade kleur' often also called 'Zwarte reins' (In the Netherlands, the clone 'Black three-bark' is the most common representative of this group).

2h Very small leaves of only 3-4.5 cm L. 

► Salix triandra 'Voeren clone' 

2i Annual shrub (as a cut shrub) averaging 1 m (maximum 1.6 m) high, leaves on the annual twigs (6.8)-8.6-(10.5) cm L and (9)-12-(15) mm B. 

► Salix triandra clone 'Kleine grijze wis' 

2j Annual shrub (as cut shrub) average 1 m (maximum 1.3 m) H, leaves on the annual twigs (6.4)-12.2-(17.3) cm L and (15)-22.3-(31) mm B.   

► Salix triandra clone 'Bruingrijze wis' 

 2k Annual shrub (as a cut shrub) average 3 m (maximum 3.3 m) H, leaves on the annual twigs (12.6)-14.9-(17) cm L and (22)-26.9-(31) mm B. 

► Salix triandra clone 'Grote grijze wis' (clones 'Noir de Touraines' and 'Noir de Villaines' by Fernand Devos imported from France also belong to this group).