Salix cinerea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Salix cinerea
• Eared Willow
• ashy willow
• grey willow
• large grey willow
• Common Sallow
• gray sallow
• gray willow
• pussy willow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Salix aurita f. uliginosa
• Salix aurita var. pumila
• Salix aurita f. rhomboidalis
• Salix iserana
• Salix rugosa var. microphylla
• Salix aurita f. cordifolia
• Salix rugosa var. grandifolia
• Salix rugosa
• Salix rugosa var. androgyna
• Salix rugosa
• Salix paludosa
• Salix patzei
• Salix spiraeifolia
• Salix versifolia var. spiraeifolia
• Salix versifolia var. sericeotomentosa
• Salix ulmifolia
• Salix versifolia var. acuta
• Salix cladostema
• Salix aurita var. grandifolia
• Salix aquatica var. acuminata
• Salix aurita var. rhomboidalis
• Salix aurita var. alpestris
• Salix aurita var. cladostema
• Salix aurita var. uliginosa
• Salix aurita var. microphylla
• Usionis uliginosa
• Usionis aurita
• Salix caprea subsp. aurita
• Capraea aurita
• Salix aurita var. leiocarpa
• Salix aurita var. ambigua

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following its descent through the subclass Magnoliidae and order Malpighiales, it is situated in the family Salicaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Salix.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Salix aurita, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its presence also extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Additionally, the species is well-established in the territories of Norway. These locations highlight its preference for the northernmost regions of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salix aurita is defined by its preference for moist and semi-aquatic environments, where it thrives in diverse hydrological settings. This species is characteristically found in forests, along shores, and within swamps, demonstrating a strong affinity for areas with high water availability. Furthermore, its ecological niche extends to canals, forests, and swamps, illustrating its ability to colonize both natural wetlands and man-made watercourses. These habitats provide the necessary saturated or semi-saturated soil conditions that support its growth and distribution across various landscape types.

Habitat :

forest, shores, swamps

Habitat :

canals, forest, swamps

Life history

The life history of Salix aurita is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its regenerative buds well above the ground, a structural adaptation that facilitates its growth habit. This species follows a deciduous pattern, shedding its foliage seasonally as part of its natural physiological cycle. Categorized under multiple life form classifications, including phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte, its development is shaped by these enduring biological traits, allowing it to persist through varying environmental conditions over many years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Salix aurita is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is an independent organism, neither a parasite nor an epiphyte, typically maintaining a terrestrial existence. The plant's stature varies significantly depending on environmental conditions and specific growth stages; it can present as a smaller shrub with a minimum height of 0.5 m and a maximum of 2.5 m (averaging approximately 1.375 m), or it can develop into a more substantial form reaching heights between 2 m and 15 m, with a higher mean height recorded at 3.6875 m. Throughout its development, the plant maintains a consistent woody structure and remains self-supporting rather than exhibiting climbing or vine-like tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

1.375 m

Plant height mean:

3.6875 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Salix aurita is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a reliance on the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. As a non-carnivorous species, it obtains its nutritional requirements through soil uptake rather than trapping prey, and it lacks the biological mechanism to function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's leaf morphology and resource allocation are reflected in its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), with mean values recorded between 101.8 cm²/g and 113.24 cm²/g. The foliage typically exhibits a mean leaf size of approximately 8.83833 cm², with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 10 cm (averaging 7 cm). Additionally, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, with a mean width of 1.25 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

8.83833 cm²

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.25 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

113.24 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

101.8 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Salix aurita is characterized by a sexual process that is strictly dioecious, meaning that self-fertilization is absent. The flowering period for this species is variable depending on environmental conditions, typically beginning between March and April and concluding between April and May. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Once fertilization occurs, the plant develops fruit in the form of a dehiscient capsule. These capsules release seeds that are characterized by a mean length of 1.1 mm (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 1.1 mm) and a mean mass of approximately 3.35e-05 g. The dispersal of these seeds is primarily anemochorous, meaning they are dispersed by the wind. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction through insect-mediated pollination and wind-driven seed dispersal the primary means of propagation.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Mar

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed length mean:

1.1 mm

Seed mass max:

0 g

Seed mass mean:

3.35e-05 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Salix aurita has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonol.

Flavonol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)