Difference between revisions of "Salix fragilis"

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{{SPlantbox
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|familia=Salicaceae
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|genus=Salix
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|species=fragilis
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|taxo_author=L.
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|common_name=Brittle willow, Crack willow
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|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|habit=tree
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|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|Max ht box=50
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|Max ht metric=ft
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|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|Max wd box=35
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|Max wd metric=ft
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|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|lifespan=perennial
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|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|exposure=sun
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|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|Temp Metric=°F
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|min_zone=6
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|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
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|max_zone=10
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|image=Salix fragilis 004.jpg
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|image_width=180
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}}
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'''''Salix fragilis''''' ('''Crack Willow''') is a species of [[willow]] native to [[Europe]] and western [[Asia]], usually growing beside rivers.<ref name=rdm>Meikle, R. D. (1984). ''Willows and Poplars of Great Britain and Ireland''. BSBI Handbook No. 4. ISBN 0-901158-07-0.</ref><ref name=rushforth>Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and Europe''. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.</ref>
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It is a medium-sized to large [[deciduous]] [[tree]], which grows rapidly to 10–20 m (rarely to 29 m) tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter and an irregular, often leaning crown. The [[bark]] is grey-brown, coarsely fissured in older trees. The [[leaf|leaves]] are bright green, 9-15 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide, with a finely serrated margin; they are very finely hairy at first in spring, but soon become hairless. The [[flower]]s are produced in [[catkin]]s in early spring, and pollinated by [[insect]]s. They are [[plant sexuality|dioecious]], with male and female catkins on separate trees; the male catkins are 4–6 cm long, the female catkins also 4–6 cm long, with the individual flowers having either one or two [[nectar]]ies.<ref name=rdm/><ref name=rushforth/><ref name=bean4>Bean, W. J. (1980). ''Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles'' 8th ed., vol. 4. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-2428-8.</ref>
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The [[cultivar]] ''Salix fragilis'' 'Russelliana' (syn. ''S. fragilis'' var. ''russelliana'' (Sm.) Koch) is by far the commonest clone of Crack Willow in [[Great Britain]] and  [[Ireland]], very easily propagated by cuttings. It is a vigorous tree commonly reaching 20–25 m tall, with leaves up to 15 cm long. It is a female clone.<ref name=rdm/>
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{{Inc|
 
{{Inc|
 
Salix fragilis, Linn. (S. viridis, Fries. S. Russelliana, Smith). Brittle Willow. Fig. 3526. Tree, 50-60 ft. high, excurrent in habit and of very rapid growth: branches brown, obliquely ascending: buds medium size, pointed: lvs. large, lanceolate-acuminate, glabrous or slightly hairy when young, scarcely paler beneath, glandular serrate: aments appearing with the lvs. (the staminate tree rare in Amer.), seldom bearing good seed, slender; scales deciduous. Eu., N. Asia. Gn. 19, p. 517; 55, p. 89.—Frequently cult. and also growing spontaneously in many places. A company of promoters induced many American farmers to plant hedges of this willow some 50 years ago. Many of these occur now throughout the country, the trees being 40-50 ft. high. A stake cut from a tree and driven in the ground will soon establish itself and grow into a tree. Var. decipiens, Hoffm. Twigs yellow: buds black in winter: lvs. smaller and brighter green. Probably a hybrid with another species.
 
Salix fragilis, Linn. (S. viridis, Fries. S. Russelliana, Smith). Brittle Willow. Fig. 3526. Tree, 50-60 ft. high, excurrent in habit and of very rapid growth: branches brown, obliquely ascending: buds medium size, pointed: lvs. large, lanceolate-acuminate, glabrous or slightly hairy when young, scarcely paler beneath, glandular serrate: aments appearing with the lvs. (the staminate tree rare in Amer.), seldom bearing good seed, slender; scales deciduous. Eu., N. Asia. Gn. 19, p. 517; 55, p. 89.—Frequently cult. and also growing spontaneously in many places. A company of promoters induced many American farmers to plant hedges of this willow some 50 years ago. Many of these occur now throughout the country, the trees being 40-50 ft. high. A stake cut from a tree and driven in the ground will soon establish itself and grow into a tree. Var. decipiens, Hoffm. Twigs yellow: buds black in winter: lvs. smaller and brighter green. Probably a hybrid with another species.
 
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{{Taxobox
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==Cultivation==
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| color = lightgreen
 
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| name = Crack Willow
 
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| status =  
 
  
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secure
 
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| image = Salix fragilis 004.jpg
 
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| image_width = 240px
 
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| image_caption = Crack Willow
 
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
 
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
 
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| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
 
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| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
 
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| familia = [[Salicaceae]]
 
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| genus = ''[[Willow|Salix]]''
 
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| species = '''''S. fragilis'''''
 
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| binomial = ''Salix fragilis''
 
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| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
 
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}}
 
  
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The '''Crack Willow''' (''Salix fragilis'') is a [[willow]] native to [[Europe]] and [[Asia]], and is reportedly invasive in North America. It is a medium-sized to large [[deciduous]] tree, which grows rapidly and can be up to 27 m tall. Its preferred habitat is beside rivers. The [[Leaf|leaves]] are bright green, 9-15 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide, with a finely serrated margin. The [[plant sexuality|dioecious]] [[flower]]s are catkins, produced in early spring, and pollinated by bees.
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===Propagation===
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The name derives from the [[twig]]s which break off very easily and cleanly at the base with an audible crack. The broken twigs and branches take root readily, enabling the species to colonise new areas, where the broken twigs fall into rivers and can be carried some distance downstream.
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===Pests and diseases===
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==Varieties==
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The variety ''Salix fragilis'' var. ''decipiens'' (Hoffm.) K.Koch occurs frequently with the type; it is a smaller [[shrub]]by tree, rarely exceeding 5–7 m tall, with completely hairless leaves up to 9 cm long and 2–3 cm broad. According to some botanists, it is a distinct species (treated as ''Salix decipiens'' Hoffm.), with, in this view, ''S. fragilis'' then being a [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] between ''Salix decipiens'' and ''[[Salix alba]]''. Some other botanists regard ''Salix decipiens'' as itself being a hybrid between ''Salix fragilis'' and ''[[Salix triandra]]''. There is little evidence to support either of these suggestions.<ref name=rdm/>
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It readily forms natural hybrids with White Willow ''Salix alba'', the hybrid being named ''Salix × rubens'' Schrank.<ref name=rdm/>
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==Gallery==
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<gallery perrow=5>
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File:Salix fragilis 001.jpg
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Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
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</gallery>
  
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The name derives from the [[twig]]s which break off very easily and cleanly at the base with an audible crack. The broken twigs and branches take root readily, enabling the species to colonise new areas, particularly where the broken twigs fall into rivers and can be carried some distance downstream. It is particularly adept at colonising new riverside sandbanks formed after [[flood]]s.
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==References==
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<references/>
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
  
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Its female flowers can have either one or two [[nectar]]ies.
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
  
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{{Commons|Salix fragilis}}
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{{stub}}
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{{wikispecies|Salix fragilis}}
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__NOTOC__
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[[Category:Salicaceae|Willow, Crack]]
 

Latest revision as of 17:37, 7 May 2010


Salix fragilis 004.jpg


Plant Characteristics
Habit   tree

Height: ⇕ 50 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 50.
Width: ⇔ 35 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 35.
Lifespan: ⌛ perennial
Cultivation
Exposure: ☼ sun
USDA Zones: 6 to 10
Scientific Names

Salicaceae >

Salix >

fragilis >

L. >


Salix fragilis (Crack Willow) is a species of willow native to Europe and western Asia, usually growing beside rivers.[1][2]

It is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree, which grows rapidly to 10–20 m (rarely to 29 m) tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter and an irregular, often leaning crown. The bark is grey-brown, coarsely fissured in older trees. The leaves are bright green, 9-15 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide, with a finely serrated margin; they are very finely hairy at first in spring, but soon become hairless. The flowers are produced in catkins in early spring, and pollinated by insects. They are dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate trees; the male catkins are 4–6 cm long, the female catkins also 4–6 cm long, with the individual flowers having either one or two nectaries.[1][2][3]

The cultivar Salix fragilis 'Russelliana' (syn. S. fragilis var. russelliana (Sm.) Koch) is by far the commonest clone of Crack Willow in Great Britain and Ireland, very easily propagated by cuttings. It is a vigorous tree commonly reaching 20–25 m tall, with leaves up to 15 cm long. It is a female clone.[1]


Read about Salix fragilis in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Salix fragilis, Linn. (S. viridis, Fries. S. Russelliana, Smith). Brittle Willow. Fig. 3526. Tree, 50-60 ft. high, excurrent in habit and of very rapid growth: branches brown, obliquely ascending: buds medium size, pointed: lvs. large, lanceolate-acuminate, glabrous or slightly hairy when young, scarcely paler beneath, glandular serrate: aments appearing with the lvs. (the staminate tree rare in Amer.), seldom bearing good seed, slender; scales deciduous. Eu., N. Asia. Gn. 19, p. 517; 55, p. 89.—Frequently cult. and also growing spontaneously in many places. A company of promoters induced many American farmers to plant hedges of this willow some 50 years ago. Many of these occur now throughout the country, the trees being 40-50 ft. high. A stake cut from a tree and driven in the ground will soon establish itself and grow into a tree. Var. decipiens, Hoffm. Twigs yellow: buds black in winter: lvs. smaller and brighter green. Probably a hybrid with another species.


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

Propagation

The name derives from the twigs which break off very easily and cleanly at the base with an audible crack. The broken twigs and branches take root readily, enabling the species to colonise new areas, where the broken twigs fall into rivers and can be carried some distance downstream.

Pests and diseases

Varieties

The variety Salix fragilis var. decipiens (Hoffm.) K.Koch occurs frequently with the type; it is a smaller shrubby tree, rarely exceeding 5–7 m tall, with completely hairless leaves up to 9 cm long and 2–3 cm broad. According to some botanists, it is a distinct species (treated as Salix decipiens Hoffm.), with, in this view, S. fragilis then being a hybrid between Salix decipiens and Salix alba. Some other botanists regard Salix decipiens as itself being a hybrid between Salix fragilis and Salix triandra. There is little evidence to support either of these suggestions.[1]

It readily forms natural hybrids with White Willow Salix alba, the hybrid being named Salix × rubens Schrank.[1]

Gallery

  • Salix fragilis 001.jpg

  • photo 1

  • photo 2

  • photo 3

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Meikle, R. D. (1984). Willows and Poplars of Great Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook No. 4. ISBN 0-901158-07-0.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
  3. ↑ Bean, W. J. (1980). Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles 8th ed., vol. 4. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-2428-8.

External links


Retrieved from "http://gardenology.mywikis.net/w/index.php?title=Salix_fragilis&oldid=127967"