Salicaceae

Salix cinerea

Common Names: Grey sallow

Plant Form: Deciduous shrub or small tree. Size: Up to 12 m tall. Stem: Numerous upright maturing to drooping, hairy and dark reddish-brown when young maturing to greyish brown and grooved. Flexible but not easily breakable. Leaves: Oval-shaped with pointed tip, dark green on top and bluish-green and hairy underneath. 2-9 cm long. Flowers: Male flowers yellow with no petals, female green with no petals, soft and fluffy, grouped in clusters. Fruit and Seeds: Capsule that splits in 2, containing seeds with long silky hairs. Habitat: Riparian areas, wetlands, swamps, wet forests, drains, alpine bogs. Distinguishing Features: Distinguished from Black willow (Salix nigra) by smaller size, having more stems, and, hairy leaves.