Salix cinerea
Salix aurita · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (1 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Salix cinerea, scientifically known as Salix aurita, is a resilient shrub native to European wetlands and moorlands. Historically valued for its high tannin content, it has been utilized in traditional medicine for its astringent and anti-inflammatory properties, offering natural remedies for skin irritations and various digestive ailments.
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
Salix auritaSynonyms
- 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
Spanish:
- Salix cinerea
- Salix deserticola
- Sargato
- Sauce de orejillas
German:
- Asch-Weide
- Salix cinerea
- Grau-Weide
- saule cendré
- Ohr-Weide
- Salbei-Weide
- Ohrweide
- Öhrchen-Weide
- Ohrweide
- Ohr-Weide
- Salbei-Weide
- Öhrchen-Weide
- Asch-Weide
- Grau-Weide
- Artengruppe Grau-Weide
French:
- Salix cinerea
- Saule cendré
- Saule à oreillettes
- Saule à oreillette
- petit marsault
- Saule a oreillettes
- Saule à oreillettes
- petit marsault
- saule cendré
- saule gris
- Saule cendre
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.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Malpighiales |
| Family | Salicaceae |
| 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.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark |
| Northern Europe | Finland |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain |
| Northern Europe | Ireland |
| Northern Europe | Norway |
| Northern Europe | Sweden |
| Middle Europe | Austria |
| Middle Europe | Belgium |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia |
| Middle Europe | Germany |
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.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonol
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)