Salix daphnoides

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Malpighiales

Familia: Salicaceae
Tribus: Saliceae
Genus: Salix
Subgenus: Salix subg. Vetrix
Sectio: S. sect. Daphnoideae
Species: Salix daphnoides
Varieties: S. d. var. pomeranica
Name

Salix daphnoides Vill.
References

Prosp. Hist. pl. Dauphiné 51. 1779
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Salix daphnoides in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
čeština: Vrba lýkovcová
Deutsch: Reif-Weide
English: violet willow
eesti: Härmpaju
suomi: Härmäpaju
hornjoserbsce: Plěsnawa wjerba
Nederlands: berijpte wilg
norsk nynorsk: Påskepil
norsk: Påskepil
polski: Wierzba wawrzynkowa
svenska: Daggvide

Salix daphnoides, the European violet willow, is a species of plant in the family Salicaceae. It can grow as a large shrub or small tree, normally reaching a height of 6–8 m (20–26 ft), but can grow up to 12 m (39 ft) tall.[1]

Description

It has a rounded crown with spreading branches with smooth, grey bark. The twigs are dark red/brown in colour, hairless and somewhat shiny. It has large buds, either hairless or with stiff, erect hairs. The leaves are oblong to narrow/obovate, normally between 7 and 12 cm long and 2 to 3 cm in width. They are hairy at first, but soon become glabrous, being a dark shiny green on their upper surfaces, and glaucous on their undersides. The catkins appear in February–March.[1]
Distribution and habitat

Salix daphnoides occurs scattered across central Europe, ranging between the Baltic states and Piedmont, and from the Balkans to eastern France.[1] It is native in the Alps, Pyrenees and the Carpathians, but has been naturalised by cultivation across a much wider area. It occurs at altitudes of 100–2,000 metres (330–6,560 ft).[2]

It grows along the banks of rivers and wetlands in alpine areas, preferring sand, pebbly or bolder-rich alluvial substrates. Outside these areas it descends into lowland areas, occurring along main rivers such as the Visla and the Rhine (often with Salix eleagnos and Myricaria germanica) as well as in loose sand dunes.[2]
Conservation status

The species is regarded by the IUCN as having a conservation status of 'Least Concern' because of its broad distribution, especially within a number of ecologically protected areas. Nevertheless, it is listed on a number of 'red lists' of individual countries.[2]
Uses

It is planted to provide reinforcement to coastal and continental sand dunes, but is also widely planted as an ornamental species in parks and along roads.[2]

The cultivar 'Aglaia' has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]
References

Meikle, R.D. (1984). Willows and poplars of Great Britain and Ireland. London: Botanical Society of the British Isles. pp. 82–84. ISBN 0901158070. OCLC 12494242.
"Salix daphnoides (European Violet-Willow)". www.iucnredlist.org. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
"Salix daphnoides 'Aglaia'". RHS. Retrieved 17 February 2021.