Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Salix viminalis

Other names

Common Osier,

Family

Salicaceae

Flowering season

March to April

English distribution

It is found throughout the country

For a map see the BSBI online atlas for:Osier

Habitat

It is an archaeophyte which grows in damp and

water-side habitats. It has been traditionally grown

in withey beds for its flexible stems (withies) which

can be twisted for making baskets. It grows rapidly

when regularly cut and is nowadays harvested for

biomass. It is also used in the same way as reed beds

to treat wastewater by removing pollutants.

Description

Osier is a tall deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 10m.

Male and female flowers are in catkins on separate plants

(dioecious). They appear before the leaves. They are 

ovoid to cylindrical and rouighly 3cm long and 1cm wide.

They have 2 to 3 small lanceolate bracts and dark ovoid

scales. Catkin buds are ovoid and reddish brown.

Male catkins have flowers with 2 stamens compsed of

yellow anthers and white filaments.

Female catkins have a hairy ovoid ovary and 

a style witha  bifid linear stigma.

Female catkins fruit from April to May with the

seeds in capsules. Seeds are wind dispersed in 

hairy fluff.

Leaves are linear-lanceolate and up to 15cm.

The upper surface is dark green and the lower very pale

due to white appressed hairs.

Twigs are pale at first due to dense hairs but soon become

hairless.