Salix caprea
Salicaceae
Common Sallow, Pussy Willow, Weeping Willow
(Kilmarnock), Weeping Sallow
Late February to April
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Goat Willow
Goat Willow grows in damp open woodland, hedges,
scrub and wasteland, and beside lakes and streams.
Weeping Willow (Kilmarnock) is a commonly grown
garden shrub and is a clone of a male S. caprea.
It is native, deciduous, shrub or small tree, growing up
to 10m.
Male and female flowers are found on separate trees.
The flowers are in catkins and appear before the leaves.
Male catkins are densely covered in silvery hairs,
dark scales and large numbers of flowers.
The flowers have no sepals or petals, just 2 stamens
with bright yellow anthers.
Female flowers are also on catkins and have hairs,
scales and a greyish hairy ovary with 2 white/yellow
stigmas.
The fruits are grey and split to release numerous seeds
which are attached to hairs forming amass of fluff which
disperses the seeds on air currents and wind.
The seeds can germinate in only a few days.
S. caprea is first of the willows to flower.
Leaves are up to 10cm, broadly ovate, slightly softly
toothed and turned downwards at the tips.
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Goat Willow - male tree with catkins
Goat Willow tree with older male catkins
Twig with male catkins
Close-up of stamens - 2 per flower
Close-up silky hairs and black scales on male catkin
Female catkins
Close-up of hairy ovules, yellow stigmas, scales
Variously-aged female catkins
Fruiting female catkin
Fruiting catkins with dispersal fluff
Young leaves
Bark of mature tree
Weeping Willow (Kilmarnock) - mid February
Silky buds
Catkins - late February
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