Salix triandra
Almond willow ( Salix triandra )
The almond - willow ( Salix triandra ) is a species in the genus of the willows (Salix ). A synonym is Salix amygdalina.
Description
The almond - willow is a large shrub to small tree that can reach a height of 10 meters. Often the trunk branches early so that an irregular crown is formed. The bark on young stems is smooth and brown - gray in older she becomes scaly and peels off partially, so that an orange-brown pattern.
The leaves of the pasture are elongated, 4-11 cm long and 1-3 cm wide. On the top they are dull dark green, gray - green on the underside. The petiole is about 1 to 2 cm, in it there are also two side sheets. The kitten occur simultaneously with the leaves in early spring. The almond willow is dioecious, male and female catkins grow on different individuals. The male catkins are 2.5 to 8 cm long, the female 2-4 cm. Since the male flowers have three stamens, they can be easily distinguished from other species of willow, these usually have two or five stamens.
The scientific name (Salix Trianda ) comes from the cause that the male flowers have three stamens. In Greek, ie, three tri-. The German name comes from the fact that the leaves of the willow are similar to those of almonds.
In the wild, the almond willow often forms hybrids with basket willow (Salix viminalis ), then hot Salix × mollissima Hoffm. ex Elwert.
Plants from the Far East, which formerly Salix triandra var nipponica ( Franch. & Savatier ) Seem. named today as the separate species Salix nipponica are counted; they, like the almond willow, three stamens.
A distinction subsp two subspecies, namely Salix triandra. triandra and Salix triandra subsp. discolor.
Dissemination
The almond willow is native to Eurasia, its occurrence range from England to Lake Baikal, and from Spain to the mountain ranges of Caucasus and Alborz. The plant often grows on riverbanks and on wet or swampy soils.
Cultivation
These pastures places is often used for plaiting, and has been cultivated because of it.