Salix viminalis, the basket willow,[Meikle, R. D. (1984). Willows and Poplars of Great Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook No. 4. .][Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins .][Perttu, K. L. and Kowalik, P. J. (1997). Salix vegetation filters for purification of waters and soils. Biomass and Bioenergy, Volume 12, Issue 1, 1997, Pages 9-19. Elsevier Science Ltd.]
Description
Salix viminalis is a multistemmed
shrub growing to between (rarely to ) tall. It has long, erect, straight branches with greenish-grey bark. The
leaf long and slender, 10–25 cm long but only 0.5–2 cm broad; they are dark green above, with a silky grey-haired underside. The
are
, produced in early spring before the leaves; they are
plant sexuality, with male and female catkins on separate plants. The male catkins are yellow and oval-shaped; the female catkins are longer and more cylindrical; they mature in early summer when the
fruit capsules split open to release the numerous minute
.
[
]
Distribution and habitat
It is commonly found by streams and other wet places. The exact native range is uncertain due to extensive historical cultivation; it is certainly native from central Europe east to western Asia, but may also be native as far west as southeastern England. As a cultivated or naturalised plant, it is widespread throughout both United Kingdom and Ireland, but only at lower . It is one of the least variable willows, but it will hybridise with several other species.[
]
Uses
Along with other related willows, the flexible twigs (called withy) are commonly used in , giving rise to its alternative common name of "basket willow". In his History of the Peloponnesian War, the ancient historian Thucydides describes using osier in 425 Common era to construct makeshift shields.
Other uses occur in energy forestry,[ effluent treatment, wastewater gardens,][
]
Salix viminalis is a known hyperaccumulator of cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, petroleum , , MTBE, TCE and byproducts, selenium, silver, uranium, and zinc,[ Phytoremediation. By McCutcheon & Schnoor. 2003, New Jersey, John Wiley & Sons, page 19.][ Enhancing Phytoextraction: The Effect of Chemical Soil Manipulation on Mobility, Plant Accumulation, and Leaching of Heavy Metals. By Ulrich Schmidt. In J. Environ. Qual. 32:1939-1954 (2003)] and as such is a prime candidate for phytoremediation. For more information, see the list of hyperaccumulators.
Ecology
Among the most common pathogens on S. viminalis are Melampsora. Female plants are more severely infected than male plants.
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