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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Chinese Willow
| status =
secure
| image = Peking-willow.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Chinese Willow (cv. 'Tortuosa') <br/>planted in the [[Jardin botanique de Montréal]]
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| familia = [[Salicaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Willow|Salix]]''
| species = '''''S. matsudana'''''
| binomial = ''Salix matsudana''
| binomial_authority = [[Gen'ichi Koidzumi|Koidz.]]
}}
{{commons|Salix_matsudana_tortuosa|Chinese Willow 'Tortuosa'}}
The '''Chinese Willow''' (''Salix matsudana''), also known as the Hankow Willow, Curly Willow or Globe Willow, is a species of [[willow]] native to northwestern [[China]]. The species is named in honour of [[Sadahisa Matsudo]], a [[Japan]]ese [[botanist]].
It is a medium-sized to large [[deciduous]] tree, growing up to 20-25 m tall. It is upright and grows rapidly, but has a short lifespan. It has narrow, light green leaves, around 4-10 cm long and 1-2 cm broad. The [[flower]]s are [[catkin]]s produced early in the spring; it is [[plant sexuality|dioecious]], with the male and female catkins on separate trees.
Many botanists treat ''Salix matsudana'' as a [[Synonymy|synonym]] of the [[Peking Willow]] ''Salix babylonica'', which, despite its botanical name, is also native to northern China. The only reported difference between the two is that ''S. matsudana'' has two [[nectar]]ies in each female flower, whereas ''S. babylonica'' has only one; however this character is not reliable in many willows (e.g. [[Crack Willow]] can have either one or two), so even this difference may mean nothing.
==Cultivation and uses==
Chinese Willow has been introduced into many areas as an [[ornamental plant|ornamental tree]], including [[Australia]], [[Europe]] and [[North America]]. A particularly popular [[cultivar]] is ''Salix matsudana'' 'Tortuosa', the "Corkscrew Willow", in which the branches and twigs grow in a spiral, twisting manner. As a result of the ornamental shape of the branches and twigs, this cultivar is commonly used as a [[bonsai]] plant and for floral arrangements.
The plant is very susceptible to [[canker]]s, and is weak-wooded and prone to storm damage. Cultivars that have been selected to resist this include 'Golden Curls', a [[hybrid]] with the [[White Willow]] (''Salix alba''), 'Scarlet Curls', and 'Navajo', the "Navajo Willow" selected in the southwest US.
Another cultivar of hybrid origin between Chinese Willow and White Willow is 'Austree'; this is an exceptionally fast-growing cultivar with straight (not contorted) branches, sold for screening and fast tree cover. However it too is very prone to cankers and other diseases, making it very short-lived and unsuitable for most of the purposes for which it is sold.
[[Category:Salicaceae|Willow, Chinese]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Chinese Willow
| status =
secure
| image = Peking-willow.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Chinese Willow (cv. 'Tortuosa') <br/>planted in the [[Jardin botanique de Montréal]]
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| familia = [[Salicaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Willow|Salix]]''
| species = '''''S. matsudana'''''
| binomial = ''Salix matsudana''
| binomial_authority = [[Gen'ichi Koidzumi|Koidz.]]
}}
{{commons|Salix_matsudana_tortuosa|Chinese Willow 'Tortuosa'}}
The '''Chinese Willow''' (''Salix matsudana''), also known as the Hankow Willow, Curly Willow or Globe Willow, is a species of [[willow]] native to northwestern [[China]]. The species is named in honour of [[Sadahisa Matsudo]], a [[Japan]]ese [[botanist]].
It is a medium-sized to large [[deciduous]] tree, growing up to 20-25 m tall. It is upright and grows rapidly, but has a short lifespan. It has narrow, light green leaves, around 4-10 cm long and 1-2 cm broad. The [[flower]]s are [[catkin]]s produced early in the spring; it is [[plant sexuality|dioecious]], with the male and female catkins on separate trees.
Many botanists treat ''Salix matsudana'' as a [[Synonymy|synonym]] of the [[Peking Willow]] ''Salix babylonica'', which, despite its botanical name, is also native to northern China. The only reported difference between the two is that ''S. matsudana'' has two [[nectar]]ies in each female flower, whereas ''S. babylonica'' has only one; however this character is not reliable in many willows (e.g. [[Crack Willow]] can have either one or two), so even this difference may mean nothing.
==Cultivation and uses==
Chinese Willow has been introduced into many areas as an [[ornamental plant|ornamental tree]], including [[Australia]], [[Europe]] and [[North America]]. A particularly popular [[cultivar]] is ''Salix matsudana'' 'Tortuosa', the "Corkscrew Willow", in which the branches and twigs grow in a spiral, twisting manner. As a result of the ornamental shape of the branches and twigs, this cultivar is commonly used as a [[bonsai]] plant and for floral arrangements.
The plant is very susceptible to [[canker]]s, and is weak-wooded and prone to storm damage. Cultivars that have been selected to resist this include 'Golden Curls', a [[hybrid]] with the [[White Willow]] (''Salix alba''), 'Scarlet Curls', and 'Navajo', the "Navajo Willow" selected in the southwest US.
Another cultivar of hybrid origin between Chinese Willow and White Willow is 'Austree'; this is an exceptionally fast-growing cultivar with straight (not contorted) branches, sold for screening and fast tree cover. However it too is very prone to cankers and other diseases, making it very short-lived and unsuitable for most of the purposes for which it is sold.
[[Category:Salicaceae|Willow, Chinese]]
