salix (willows) in carmarthenshire: a guide to identification · cricket bats are made from salix...

Salix (Willows) In Carmarthenshire: A Guide To Identification

Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - June 1996 George Hutchinson

Most people recognise a willow when they see one but putting a name to it is more difficult.Some species are quite variable and hybrids occur making the task of identification evenharder.

Introduction Etymology

'Salix' is derived from the Greek 'helix' (coil) referring to the pliant branches; similarly 'Willow'from the Anglo-Saxon 'welig' or 'wican' (to give way or bend) (Macleod, 1952). According toNewsholme (1992) there is the Celtic word 'sallis' from 'sal' (near) and 'lis' (water). More formerwords for 'willow' can be found in The Oxford English Dictionary (Simpson & Weiner, 1989). TheWelsh for 'willow(s)', sing. 'helygen', pl. 'helyg', occurs in the names of a few locations in thecounty, as can be seen by a glance at the Ordnance Survey maps - Ffoshelyg, Llwynhelyg, Penyr Helyg.

Uses

The economic value relies on the ability of many willows to coppice well, resulting in woodwhich is light, flexible and resilient.

Basketry has made use of the pliable branches of willow resulting in an industry which led tomany clones being produced for commercial use several of which are still in production today.Coracle-making was one of the earliest forms of basketry. The three most important osiersgrown for the trade are Salix triandra, S. purpurea and S. viminalis and their clones, with S.triandra ‘Black Mawl’ the most popular. Many of the osier beds on the east coast of Englandwere destroyed in the 1953 floods so that the main area in Great Britain is now the SomersetLevels. Davies and Miller (1994) record osier cultivation in the Gwendraeth Fawr valley.

Fence posts can be made of willow but an unusual twist occurs when some parts start sproutingagain and revert to a shrub. This occurs because many willows sprout readily from cuttings, withthe well known exception of Salix caprea. In nature species spread vegetatively in this way, forexample, Salix fragilis twigs snap easily at their base in strong wind and can fall into the river

1 / 22


thus getting swept downstream to colonise the riverbanks and eyots.

Cricket bats are made from Salix alba var. caerulea (Cricket-bat Willow). The industry is underthreat from the bacterium Erwinia salicis which causes Watermark Disease, so called becausewhen the wood is cut the affected part reveals regions which appear wet, sometimes exuding acloudy liquid which darkens on exposure to air leaving a reddish-brown stain.

The use of willow as a fuel is on the increase apparently alleviating global warming as theamount of carbon dioxide produced during burning is less than that absorbed by the plantduring its growth. In Sweden willow has largely replaced oil as a fuel for domestic use andindustry.

Horticultural and amenity plantings of willow are becoming increasingly popular. This has beenparticularly noticeable in the Llanelli area over the last few years with, for example, attractiveplantings from Trostre along the new roads leading to the Dafen river-crossing and also at theWildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre at Penclacwydd. Some of the earliest of the recentplantings occur on the banks of the Gwendraeth Fach west of Cydweli. At Carmarthen the newStephens Way in Pensarn has introduced willows opposite the Royal Mail delivery-office andthere are some at the old Cwmoernant Reservoirs at Tanerdy, now a public amenity area wherelarge willows have been planted on the banks - but more of these later.

In medicine, the antipyretic (fever-reducing) properties of willow bark (e.g. Salix alba) wereknown to the ancients and are due to the bitter glucoside, salicin, the basis of the Aspirin-relatedpharmaceuticals. Salix purpurea is a commercial source of salicin which is also used in thetreatment of rheumatism.

World distribution

Salix is a large genus of over 300 woody species and many hybrids. The majority of speciesoccur in the temperate and sub-arctic regions of the northern hemisphere. Elsewhere willowscan be found in almost every part of the world except the Malay peninsula. In Australia and NewZealand only imported species occur. The different species range from semi-prostrate shrubs to30-metre trees.

Taxonomy Classification

2 / 22


The genus Salix is divided by botanists into three main subgenera, all of which are representedin Carmarthenshire.

Subgenus Salix (True Willows). Leaves mostly lanceolate to narrow elliptic, finely and closelyserrate. Catkins long and slender (see fig. 1), emerging relatively late, peaking from mid-April toMay in Carmarthenshire, tending to be earliest in the lowland areas and latest in the moreupland areas. The membranous scale (bract) of each flower on the catkin is yellowish-green(not black-tipped) and quickly shed (except in S. triandra). Most species can grow into tall trees. S. pentandra, triandra, fragilis, x rubens and x sepulcralis belong here.

Subgenus Vetrix (Osiers and Sallows). Leaves orbicular to linear, entire to coarsely andsomewhat irregularly toothed or crenate (blunt, round-toothed) margins. Catkins short and wide(see fig.1), most emerging relatively early, peaking in March but there are exceptions with S.aurita and S. repens of the wet heathlands flowering in April and May. Membranous scale(bract) of each flower two-coloured, the lower half yellowish-green and the upper half or tipsdark brown or black, and persistent. Most species are shrubs or small trees apart fromprostrate forms of S. repens. S. cinerea, caprea, aurita, viminalis and purpurea belong here.

Subgenus Chamaetia. Dwarf arctic or mountain shrubs. Leaves ovate to rounded, entire tocoarsely serrate. Catkins short and wide emerging late and peaking in June and July.Membranous scale (bract) of each flower wholly pale or dark. The only representative in theBritish Isles south of Scotland is S. herbacea with yellowish or red-tinged bracts.

Hybridization

This occurs particularly where the parents grow together and have a similar flowering time. Inconsidering hybrids it is important first of all to appreciate the plasticity (variability) of thespecies concerned. Hybrids have also been made artificially by horticulturalists. In the 1950's N.H. Nilsson, in Sweden, managed to cross hybrids several times to produce one said to havethirteen species in its parentage.

Willow hybrids outnumber those of any other genus in the British flora. With the exception of twohybrids with S. triandra, hybrids between the two main subgenera of Salix described abovehave not been recorded. Many willow hybrids are fertile and can backcross. Two of our

3 / 22


commonest hybrids in Carmarthenshire, S. aurita x S. cinerea, and S. caprea x S. cinerea, canboth obliterate local distinctions between the parents, which are elsewhere easy to identify inthe county although this is exceptional and certainly not as common as is claimed in Englishcounties. The majority of hybrids are uncommon or else represented by uniform, often one-sexclones, deliberately introduced or descended from planted specimens, and with some practicecan be identified almost as easily as the parents. For example, many S. x sericans (S. caprea xS. viminalis) plants can be easily identified.

Pollination in Salix is performed by insects and to a lesser extent by wind. There is somepollination by small birds such as the Blue Tit. Poplars (Populus spp.) and birches (Betula spp.),on the other hand, are mainly wind-pollinated.

Identification

Being deciduous, willows show their outlines best in winter when some stand out with theirbright orange branches from the surrounding trees and shrubs. Salix alba var. vitellina and theplanted S. x rubens nothovar. basfordiana are good examples. Salix fragilis also shows thiscolour to some extend during the winter but it seems to fade as the leaves emerge making aplant, obvious in winter, far more difficult to relocate by late spring.

Spring reveals the catkins. All species of willows are dioecious, that is, male and female catkinsoccur on separate plants (see fig. 1). In some of the varieties and hybrids in the county, andindeed the British Isles, only one sex is known. With hybrids matters are more complicated,again often just one sex can be found but in the commonly planted hybrid 'Weeping Willow',male, female and androgynous catkins can be found, that is, where male and female flowersare found on the same catkin. Have a look at your local plants in April.

'Pussy willow' does not refer to a single species but refers to the sallows - Salix cinerea, S.caprea and their hybrid, reflecting the white silvery hairs on the female catkins, but male shrubsalso show this effect if caught early enough before the catkins turn yellow, becoming dense withanthers and pollen. The Osier (Salix viminalis) shows its catkins early with long symmetricallines of them stretching sometimes for over 0.45m, along the straight shoots.

Late spring sees the development of the leaves. Some species have pubescent (hairy) leavesat this time of year but gradually loose them and become glabrous as the year progresses.Even late in the year the smaller leaves near the end of the shoots may still retain some of

4 / 22


these hairs particularly on the underside of the leaf. The same applies to the shoots and twigs,which also have to be checked for hairs to determine if this year's (shoots) or last year's (twigs)growth is being examined.

By July most leaves are fully developed and it is only then that the true leaf shape can beascertained. One should examine leaves that look well developed, not the smaller apical leavesat the tips of the shoots. Hairiness on the upper and lower surface of the leaf should bechecked, the serration of the margins, and whether the surface is rugose (wrinkled) - a featureof S. aurita which is mostly lost in pressed, dried specimens. Note the stipules (tiny leaf-likeappendages at the base of the petiole (leaf-stalk) adjoining the shoot) and whether they arepersistent (not falling off early).

By late summer small orange to red hairs have increased on the undersurface of the leaves ofSalix cinerea subsp. oleifolia (Rusty Sallow) and sometimes they can be found in suspectedhybrids of this taxon. Salix fragilis has a more glaucous underside to the leaves at this time sofrom a distance can trick one into believing it is Salix alba as the leaves are turned in a gentlebreeze.

Carmarthenshire's Willows

Latin and English names follow those of Stace (1991). Welsh Names follow those of Davies &Jones (1995). Not all willows have English or Welsh names, especially hybrids and cultivars.Specimens or voucher specimens from the sites mentioned have been deposited at NMW. Forgrid references see Appendix 2.

Subgenus Salix (True Willows):

Salix pentandra (Bay Willow) (Helygen Beraroglaidd). 'Shoots and twigs very glossy as ifvarnished' is the best character. Leaves thick, glabrous, glossy dark green. Catkins with upperpart of peduncle (stalk) densely pubescent. Male flowers with 5-8 stamens. A local willow in thecounty, being commonest around the Cross Hands area, such as at Capel Quarry and near LlynLlech Owain. Also in the “Bee Orchid Ride” on Tywyn Burrows.

Salix fragilis (Crack-willow). Twigs snap easily at their point of attachment but elsewhere arequite pliable. Leaves are glossy green above when mature. British and European salicologistsdisagree over the origin of S. fragilis, the latter considering it to be of hybrid origin. In Britain it isrepresented by four varieties, two of which have been recorded from Carmarthenshire. Some

5 / 22


plants appear to be intermediate and cannot be assigned to any of the varieties, so they have tobe recorded as just S. fragilis. The species is common and widespread in the county particularlyalong river banks. Var. fragilis,

which can be a male or female tree, has not been recorded from the county but may occur. Ithas conspicuously regularly serrate leaves.

Var. russelliana (Bedford Willow) (Helygen y Dug). Named after the 6th Duke of Bedford whofirst drew attention to the economic importance of the tree. Only female trees are known andhence it has spread vegetatively and has been obviously planted in places. Leaves lanceolatewith long-acuminate (gradually tapering to a point) tip. Leaf margins coarsely serrate (irregularforward-directing teeth). This is the commonest variety over most of the British Isles as is thecase for Carms. Often found along river-banks with confirmed records around Cydweli Flats,the Penclacwydd area SE of Llanelli, SSW of Ddol-fawr Llwynhendy and along an old mineralline, Pembrey.

Var. furcata. A male tree with leaves noticeably broader than var. russelliana and with moreabruptly pointed tips but the teeth are still coarsely serrate. Less frequent than var. russellianawith confirmed records from the Gwendraeth estuary west of Cydweli at the NE corner of theCydweli treatment works; in the Llanelli area north of Morfa'r Ynys Farm, Morfa and SW ofDafen Pond.

Salix alba is represented by three varieties in Carms. Most trees, if not all, have been planted.All are quite hairy on both surfaces of the minutely but regularly serrate leaves, especiallyearlier in the season. It is represented in the county by three varieties but in most cases var.alba and var. caerulea have not been differentiated. There are several widespread records ofthe species, particularly from the coastal belt.

Var. alba (White Willow) (Helygen Wen). Leaves persistently sericeous (silky upper surface),and generally shorter and narrower than in var. caerulea. It has been confirmed from two sites,for example on the bank of the R. Loughor below Cae-delyn, Llanedi.

Var. caerulea (Cricket-bat Willow) (Helygen Las). Leaves generally longer and broader than invar. alba and glabrescent (becoming glabrous) on their upper surface. It has been confirmed

6 / 22


from two sites, for example east of Bevan's Pond on Cydweli Flats.

Var. vitellina (Golden Willow) (Helygen Aur). Orange twigs and branches, conspicuousespecially during the winter months. It has been found at three coastal sites, for examplealongside a road at Laugharne Burrows, and ENE of Dyffryn Farm, Bynea.

Salix alba x S. fragilis (= S. x rubens) (Hybrid Crack-willow) (See also under Planted Salix,below).

Trees can be represented by a whole range of variants often difficult to tell from the parents.Leaves below often glaucous and remaining thinly hairy; above, sericeous (silky) but soonbecoming glabrous but not shiny-green. Margins of leaves minutely but sometimes ratherirregularly serrate. Leaves are also lanceolate and long-acuminate (tips tapering gradually to apoint). There are two confirmed records, one in an open ride on fixed dunes in Pembrey Forestand the other from the bank of the River Loughor below Ty-canol, Llanedi.

S. triandra (Almond Willow) (Helygen Drigwryw). Leaves regularly serrate with male treeshaving 3 stamens per flower in the catkins. Bark on old trees flakes off like the London Plane(also sometimes a feature in hybrids involving S. triandra). A local willow in the county beingcommonest in the lower Gwendraeth Fawr valley around to Pembrey, such as at Pont-newydd,WNW of Carway, and near Moat Farm, Llandyry.

Var. hoffmanniana is normally a male plant with uniformly smaller leaves than the species andhas been found at two sites in the lower Gwendraeth Fawr valley SE of Cydweli - on the bank ofthe Gwendraeth Fawr near Pont Spwdwr, and near the Coed Bach coal washery.

Subgenus Vetrix (Osiers and Sallows):

S. purpurea (Purple Willow) (Helygen Gochlas). A key character is the often opposite tosubopposite leaves which become almost black on drying. The margins are subentire or shortlyserrate in the upper half. Uncommon in Carmarthenshire, mostly along river banks such as theTeifi between Llanybydder and Cwmann in the north of the county, and the lower GwendraethFawr, the Gwendraeth Fach downstream of Pont Ceidrych, and a few sites in Pembrey Forestin the south.

7 / 22


S. daphnoides (European Violet-willow) (Helygen Borffor). A tall shrub or slender tree. Theyoung twigs are pruinose, i.e. covered with a dense white bloom that is gradually lost as theseason progresses but usually persists below the buds. It has large showy male catkins andcoriaceous (leathery) shiny leaves. Two plantings occur towards the south-eastern end ofPembrey Forest and a few trees occur near the ski slope in Pembrey Country Park.

S. viminalis (Osier) (Helygen Wiail). A tall shrub or small tree with long narrow leaves withinrolled margins. The underside of the leaves have a uniform covering of silvery hairs like S.repens. Young leaves and leaves on some forms of the species can be very narrow recallingthe planted S. elaeagnos. A common willow in the county where it has often been plantedaround ponds and along rivers.

S. caprea (Goat Willow) (Helygen Grynddail Fwyaf). The biggest of the British sallows withbroadly elliptic leaves similar to those of apple trees. The underside of the leaves look whitishwith tomentose or pubescent hairs, soft to the touch, and with prominent venation. The catkinsare generally larger than in S. cinerea and the twigs have no striae (for discussion of striae seeunder S. cinerea). Common but far less so than S. cinerea subsp. oleifolia and although there isa wide overlap in the preferred habitats, S. caprea can also be found on drier soils which areslightly basic and is therefore a common coloniser of disused railway lines often where there isgood drainage on railway embankments.

S. caprea x S. cinerea (= S. x reichardtii). This too can be close to either parent but the leaveshave a narrower outline than S. caprea but retain the soft hairy underside. These features aretypical of this widespread hybrid in the county. Faint striae can sometimes be seen when thebark on the twigs is peeled back. Sites include the pathway on the ridge east of Garnbig and theindustrial area of the North Dock, Llanelli.

S. caprea x S. viminalis (= S. x sericans) (Broad-leaved Osier). The long leaves are usuallybroader than in the similar S. cinerea x S. viminalis and tend to have whitish hairy undersideswith prominent venation reflecting the S. caprea parentage. Striae are absent. Severalwidespread records in the county, such as Cydweli railway station, where it occurs with S. xsmithiana.

S. cinerea. Salicologists differ as to whether the two taxa found in the British Isles should be

8 / 22


treated as subspecies - subsp. cinerea and subsp. oleifolia, or as separate species - S. cinereaand S. atrocinerea respectively, the latter names favoured by European botanists. Subspeciesare currently used in the British Isles. Both subspecies have striate twigs. Striae are narrowelongate ridges on the wood seen by peeling back the bark on mostly second year and oldertwigs. They are found in Salix cinerea, S. aurita and to a lesser extent in hybrids involving thesespecies. Being sometimes difficult to find, their presence is therefore a more reliable characterthan the conclusion that they are absent.

Subsp. oleifolia (Rusty Sallow) (Helygen Olewydd-ddail) is by far the commonest willow in thecounty. The twigs exhibit only faint striation. The leaves can be quite variable in shape butusually oblanceolate or oblong, entire or slightly undulate-serrate. The rusty (faint orange) hairson the underside of the leaves become more noticeable as the season progresses and theunderside of the leaves often become both glaucous (bluish-grey) and rough to the touch.

Subsp. cinerea (Grey Sallow) (Helygen Lwyd) has not been found in Carmarthenshire. It isfound mostly in eastern Britain and was first found in Wales by Mike Porter (vice-countyrecorder for Brecs.) growing in Breconshire at the margin of an upland fen about 2km SSE ofTirabad, but only about one kilometre from the north-eastern boundary of Carmarthenshire,near the Crychan Forest.

I was fortunate enough to see this subspecies in 1993 at the Askham Bog Nature Reserve,near. York. Unlike our subsp. oleifolia the leaves were hairy on the upper surface and quitefelted underneath with no rusty hairs, despite it being September, and the twigs were stronglystriate. (See under S. caprea for discussion about striae).

S. cinerea x S. viminalis (= S. x smithiana) (Silky-leaved Osier) (Helygen Sidanddail). Predominantly a female hybrid. The long narrow leaves are wider and not as silvery on theunderside as S. viminalis, being greyish-green and pubescent and sometimes becoming almostglabrous at maturity. Striae can sometimes be seen under the bark when peeled back. Thehybrid is sometimes difficult to tell apart from S. caprea x. S. viminalis (qv). It occurs near riversand streams prone to flooding and on disturbed ground where it is free to colonise. Severalrecords in the county, such as at Cydweli railway station, where it occurs with S. x sericans,west of Techon-fawr, Llwynhendy and north of Morfa, Llanelli.

Salix aurita (Eared Willow) (Helygen Grynglustiog). This is the small willow one can often detectfrom a distance on very wet heaths which are often devoid of any other shrubs. The leaves are

9 / 22


usually smaller and rounder than in S. cinerea subsp. oleifolia but the striking features are thedull rugose (wrinkled) upper surface to the leaves and the underside greyish with hairs, soft tothe touch, and with prominent venations. The thin twigs are strongly striate far more so than inS. cinerea subsp. oleifolia, and sometimes have persistent stipules. The twisted apex to someleaves is an additional character but this cannot be used on its own as it occurs sometimes inother sallows and can occur in hybrids with S. aurita. The species is normally associated withwet heathland and can sometimes occur in such habitats with S. cinerea.

Salix aurita x S. cinerea (= S. x multinervis). This common hybrid can be close to either parentand difficult to separate. The leaves are usually larger than in S. aurita, with a less rugosesurface. The often persistent stipules and dull leaves which usually remain softly but thinlypubescent below separates it from S. cinerea subsp. oleifolia. Widespread in the county,including west of Tirlan Farm, Llannon, and east of Cencoed-uchaf.

Salix repens (Creeping Willow) (Corhelygen). This low-growing small-leaved species isrepresented by two varieties in the county but in the past most recorders have not differentiatedthem. The species is commonest in the southern half of Carmarthenshire with several scatteredrecords elsewhere.

Var. repens is rhizomatous with hairy leaves becoming subglabrous as the summer progresses.It is found mostly at inland wet heathy sites such as near Glan Morlais Farm, Trimsaran .

Var. argentea has ascending and more robust branches with slightly larger leaves withcharacteristic appressed-silky (sericeous), silvery hairs, sometimes on both surfaces but mostfrequently on the underside. It is a natural plant successor in coastal dune slacks, such as atPendine, Laugharne and Tywyn Burrows, which it can often cover to the detriment of rareflowering-species. It is also known from inland sites in the county and is now being used foramenity planting along new road schemes, for example around Machynys.

Subgenus Chamaetia:

Salix herbacea (Dwarf Willow) (Helygen Leiaf). A dwarf shrub less than 10 cm in height withsmall roundish leaves. Close to its southern limit in the British Isles, being confined to thevicinity of the highest point in the county at Bannau Sir Gaer (Carmarthen Fans) above Llyn yFan Fach, where it grows on the Old Red Sandstone cliffs. It is difficult to locate, but oncefound, good views can be had by carefully looking down with binoculars from the cliff-top(Danger!).

10 / 22


Salix species and varieties often used by Landscape Architects inamenity plantings.

Salix x sepulcralis nothovar. chrysochoma (= S. alba var. vitellina x S. babylonica) (WeepingWillow). The pronounced branches hanging down with slender golden-yellow orolivaceous-yellow twigs make this well known taxon easy to recognise. The narrow leaves soonbecome glabrous and have regular minutely-serrate margins. Male catkins dominate. There arethree coastal records in the county and, of course, it is often planted in gardens around pondsand streams.

Salix x rubens nothovar. basfordiana (= S. alba var. vitellina x S. fragilis). Under theInternational Code of Botanical Nomenclature, because the two parents in this hybrid are ofdifferent taxonomic rank (one a variety the other a species) the term 'nothovariety' has to beapplied to the hybrid name rather than ‘variety’. Two ornamental forms of this cultivar have beenrecorded as planted in Carmarthenshire.

forma basfordiana. Inheriting the orange twigs and branches of the var. vitellina parent. Leaves9-15 cm long, bright shining green above, glaucous beneath. Catkins with densely pubescentpeduncle (stalk). Planted along the north bank of the Gwendraeth Fach west of Cydweli.

forma sanguinea has redder twigs but is usually a lower growing, less vigorous tree with leavesrarely greater than 8cm long. Only female plants are known. Planted along the ditch on thesouth side of the Machynys Link road.

Salix elaeagnos (Olive Willow). With their silvery undersides, the leaves resemble miniature S.viminalis, in fact they have the narrowest leaves of any willow likely to be encountered in theBritish Isles. Planted in Llanelli along new roads and as amenity plantings (e.g. Dafen Pond)and in Carmarthen at the Cwmoernant Reservoirs community area. It is a species that is beingincreasingly planted by local councils.

Salix eriocephala (Heart-leaved Willow). The leaf margins are regularly serrate and there arelarge stipules up to 1 cm long. A tree which may be this North American species was foundwest of Glan-rhyd Farm, on the old Pembrey Airfield.

11 / 22


Salix x calodendron (= ? S. caprea x cinerea x viminalis) (Holme Willow). The leaves are largeelliptic (9 cm x 3 cm) with a pointed apex, thinly pubescent above and more densely sounderneath, where the veins are rather prominent. Striae are present in the twigs and themargins of the leaves are thinly recurved. Thus there is evidence in this hybrid of the threeputative parents. It has been planted along the new roads at Machynys, and around MachynysPond.

Salix x forbyana (= ? S. cinerea x purpurea x viminalis) (Fine Osier). The acutely tipped leaveshave a glossy upper side and blacken somewhat on drying. The margins have a blunt leafserration. Predominantly female; male shrubs are rare. A planted specimen has been foundsouth-east of the pumping station near the Ashburnham golf course, Pembrey.

Salix x dasyclados 'Grandis'. This erect tree cultivar of uncertain ancestry has leaves evenlarger than those of S. x calodendron (24 cm x 4.5 cm). It has been planted at the amenity areaat the south-west corner of the former upper Cwmoernant Reservoir in Carmarthen.

Other Salix Records from Carmarthenshire:

Salix aurita x S. caprea (= S. x capreola). There are four records of this difficult-to-prove hybrid.Only one of these is supported by a specimen - from the Afon Fawr valley (SN332321), 1.8kmS. of Maudsland. Its identity has recently been confirmed by R. D. Meikle.

Salix fragilis x S. pentandra (= S. x meyeriana). Based on a 1945 record from Gorslas. Thevoucher material at NMW has recently been redetermined by R. D. Meikle as S. pentandra.

Salix planted at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre, Penclacwydd, near Llanelli.

Key to locations of plantings within the centre: AS = Asian Pen, BG = Butterfly Garden, CP =Car Park, EN = Entrance Area, EU = European Pen, IS = Island Pen, MH = Marsh HideApproach, NU = Nursery, SA = South American Pen, TU = Tundra.

12 / 22


Most botanical names are those supplied by the nursery, with a few corrections.

Salix adenophila - as cuttings in AS, all may have died.

Salix aegyptiaca - EN, MH, NU.

Salix alba 'Chermesina' - several good stands.

Salix alba var. vitellina - commonly planted around the grounds. 1991/2 saw much die-back witha good number of trees dying. This may have been caused by defoliation by sawfly larvae overthe previous two or three years. Var. vitellina was preferred by the sawflies with S. alba'Chermesina' remaining untouched until all the var. vitellina leaves had been eaten. Unlike'Chermesina' and var. alba, the leaves of var. vitellina are glabrescent [hairy at first but losingthem later] which may be why they are selected by the sawfly.

Salix 'American Mackay' - NU.

Salix 'Aquatica Gigantea' - SA, one plant.

Salix babylonica - one 'True Weeping Willow' in the SA.

Salix [caprea] - the stock named as such from a nursery is clearly not true S. caprea,hybridization being involved. It has been commonly planted around the centre.

Salix cinerea subsp. oleifolia is frequent in ditches and hedges as a native plant.

13 / 22


Salix daphnoides - CP, IS.

Salix daphnoides 'Oxford Violet' - MH, TU, AS.

Salix elaeagnos - commonly planted in the lower area of the grounds.

Salix fragilis - native well established trees occur. Many of those planted from a nursery stockhave died, possibly as a result of sawfly larvae attacks and/or stock being of a weaknon-coastal clone.

Salix gracilistyla - NU.

Salix gracilistyla var. melanostachys (S. x melanostachys) - NU, one plant.

Salix hibernica - BG.

Salix hookeriana - NA.

Salix 'Hutchinsoni Nigricans' - NU.

Salix irrorata - TU, cuttings , probably all have died.

Salix kinuyanagi - HM, AS.

14 / 22


Salix magnifica - NU.

Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa' - several in EU.

Salix myasotifolia - NU [possible miss-spelling of S. myrsinifolia]

Salix purpurea - c100 planted around the grounds.

Salix purpurea 'Howki' - MH.

Salix repens var. argentea - MH.

Salix x sepulcralis nothovar. chrysochoma (S. alba var. vitellina 'Pendula'; S. x chrysochoma) -5 or 6 in EU.

Salix udensis 'Sekka' (S. sachalinensis 'Sekka') - one strong plant in Curator's garden.

Salix viminalis - commonly planted.

Recent amenity plantings around Machynys Pond

These include Salix x calodendron, S. x sepulcralis and S. repens var. argentea. A few S.pentandra and S. triandra, together with a host of other decorative trees and shrubs have alsobeen planted on the low 'hill' around the remnant wall of the demolished Machynys House.

15 / 22


Discussion of botanical terms applied to Salix in the literature.

Catkin: both male and female catkins comprise many flowers. Each flower has a membranousscale at its base variously called a catkin-scale or bract (fig. 1). When the capsule releases theseeds the remaining capsule, split in two, can superficially resemble large anthers.

Bract: also a term applied to a small modified leaf at the base of the catkin or along acatkin-bearing shoot (see also under catkin).

Shoot: the leafy unripened growth of the current season. (cf. Twig).

Stigma: two in Salix but often bifid (ie. divided into two, as illustrated in fig. 1).

Stipule: a small leaf-like growth at the base of a petiole (leaf-stalk).

Striae: elongate ridges on twigs seen by peeling back the bark (See under S. caprea for furtherdiscussion of striae).

Twig: the ripened leafless growth of the preceding season (cf. shoot).

Acknowledgements

Grateful thanks to Mr R. D. Meikle (Botanical Society of the British Isles Salix Referee) fordetermining numerous specimens sent to him from the county over the years and to Mr B.Stewart for providing a checklist with notes of the Salix which were planted at the new Wildfowland Wetlands Trust Centre at Penclacwydd, near Llanelli. Thanks also to the numerousrecorders who have sent in plants for confirmation or determination especially Messrs I. K.Morgan and R. D. Pryce who have also assisted with the compilation.

References

16 / 22


Brendall, T. (1985). Willows of the British Isles. Shire Publications Ltd., Princes Risborough,Bucks.

Davies, B. L. & Miller, H. (1944). Part 39: Carmarthenshire. In: The Land of Britain - TheReport of The Land Utilisation Survey of Britain. (ed. L. D. Stamp), [p.533]. London.

Davies, D. & Jones, A. (1995). Enwau Cymraeg ar blanhigion. Welsh Names of Plants. National Museum of Wales: Department of Botany, Cardiff.

Lord, A. ed. (1990). The Plant Finder (1990/91 edition). Headmain Ltd, for the Hardy PlantSociety. Whitbourne, Worcs.

Macleod, R. D. (1952). Key to the names of British plants. Pitman & Sons Ltd, London.

Meikle, R.D. (1984). Willows and Poplars of Great Britain and Ireland, B.S.B.I. Handbook No.4. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London.

Newsholme, C. (1992). Willows, the genus Salix. B.T. Batsford Ltd., London.

Simpson, J.A. & Weiner, E.S.C (1989, The Oxford English Dictionary (2nd edition). ClarendonPress, Oxford.

Stace, C.A. (1991). New Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Warren-Wren, S.C. (1972). Willows. David & Charles, Newton Abbott.

17 / 22


Watling, R. & Raven, J.A. eds. (1992). Willow Symposium. Edinburgh 1991. Proceedings ofThe Royal Society of Edinburgh Section B (Biological Sciences) vol. 98.

Appendix 1

Checklist of Carmarthenshire Salix

* indicates a recently planted willow.

S. alba S. cinerea x S. viminalis (=S. x smithiana)

S. alba var. alba S. daphnoides

S. alba var. caerulea S. eleagnos

S. alba var. vitellina S. ? eriocephala

S alba x S. fragilis (=S. x rubens) S. fragilis

S. x sepulcralis nothovar.chrysochoma S. fragilis var. furcata

S. x rubens nothovar. basfordiana S. fragilis var. russelliana

(=S. alba var.vitellina x S. babylonica)* S. herbacea

18 / 22


(=S. alba var. vitellina x S. fragilis) S. pentandra

forma basfordiana* S. purpurea

forma sanguinea* S. repens

S. aurita S. repens var. argentea

S. aurita x S. caprea (=S. x capreola) S. repens var. repens

S. aurita x S. cinerea (=S. x multinervis) S. triandra

S. caprea S. viminalis

S. caprea x S. cinerea (=S. x reichardtii) S x calodendron (=? S. caprea x S. cinerea x S.viminalis)*

S. caprea x S. viminalis (=S. x sericans) S. x dasyclados ‘Grandis’

S. cinerea subsp. oleifolia S. x forbyana (=? S. cinerea x S. purpurea x S. viminalis*

Appendix 2

Grid references of Carmarthenshire place-names referred to in the text

19 / 22


Six-figure grid references refer to the locality of the plant.

Four- or two-figure ones refer only to the general area, not necessarily to the site of the plant inthat area.

Ashburnham golf course, SE of pumping station SN426007 Llyn Llech Owain, near, SN565149

Bannau Sir Gaer (Carmarthen Fans) SN810214 Llyn-y-Fan Fach SN80_21_

Bevan’s Pond, Cydweli Flats, E of, SN413043 Machynys SS51398

Capel Quarry SN559153 Machynys House SS508980

Carmarthen SN41_20_ Machynys Link SS522988

Cencoed -uchaf, E. of, SN485032 Machynys Pond SS510980

Coed Bach coal washery, near, SN427058 Moat Farm, Llandyry SN433053

Cross Hands area SN56_12_ Morfa, N. of, SS519995

Crychan Forest SN8__4__ Morfa’r Ynys Farm, N. of, SS522991

20 / 22


Cwmann SN58_47_ Pembrey SN42_01_

Cwmoernant Reservoirs, Tanerdy SN419213 Pembrey, old mineral line, SN419019

Cwmoernant Reservoirs amenity area SN419213 Pembrey Forest SN30_01_

Cydweli Flats SN41_05_ Pembrey Forest, SE end, SN408010

Cydweli railway station SN401065 Penclacwydd SS53_98_

Cydweli treatment works SN399063 Penclacwydd area SS53_98_

Dafen Pond SN530014 Pendine Burrows SN25_07_

Dafen Pond, SW of, SN529013 Pont Ceidrych SN494152

Ddol-fawr, Llwynhendy, SSW of, SS536990 Pont-newydd, WNW of Carway SN44_07_

Dyffryn Farm, Bynea, ENE of, SS548985 Pont Spwdwr, near, SN433057

Garnbig, E. of, SN585158 River Teifi SN5__4__

Glan-rhyd Farm, Pembrey Airfield SN404031 River Loughor below Llanedi

21 / 22


Gorslas SN57_13_ Cae-delyn SN588061

Glan Morlais Farm, Trimsaran, near, SN44_04_ Ty-canol SN596063

Gwendraeth estuary W of Cydweli SN39_06_ Stephens Way, Pensarn SN412194

Gwendraeth Fach W of Cydweli SN400069 Techon-fach, N. of Llwynhendy SS5389492

Gwendraeth Fawr SN4__0__ Techon-fawr, W. of Llwynhendy SS538991

Gwendraeth Fawr, near Pont Spwdwr SN433057 Tirabad (Brecs.) SN87_41_

Gwendraeth Fawr valley, Lower, SN4__0__ Tirlan Farm, Llannon, W. of, SN555075

Laugharne Burrows SN29_07_ Trostre SS52_99_

Laugharne Burrows, alongside road, SN303084 Tywyn Burrows SN36_04_

Llanelli, N. Dock, SN49_99_ Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre SS532986

Llanybydder SN52_43_

22 / 22

salix (willows) in carmarthenshire: a guide to identification · cricket bats are made from salix...

Documents