Pussy willow
- Latin name: Salix discolor Muhl.
- French name: Saule discolore
- Taxonomic Serial Number: 22524
Description
Leaves
Form
- Oblong to narrowly elliptic
- Sometimes widest above the middle
- Tip pointed or blunt, base tapered
- Raised veins on upper surface
- Young leaves hairy, becoming hairless; firm
- Stipules small, much larger on vigorous shoots
Length
- 3–10 cm
Colour
- Upper surface bright green
- Lower surface whitish
- Young leaves reddish
Margin
- Toothed, especially above the middle
Buds
Form
- Flattened, pointed, pressed against the twig, closely spaced
- Covered with a single scale
- No true terminal bud; end bud originates as a lateral bud
- Flower buds larger than leaf buds
- Leaf scars V-shaped, with 3 vein scars
- Stipule scars on either side
Length
- Leaf buds 7 mm
- Flower buds up to 10 mm
Colour
- Reddish-purple
Twigs
Form
- Stout, shiny
- Hairy when young, becoming hairless
Colour
- Dark reddish-brown
- Lenticels pale
Flowers
Form
- Catkins on very short shoots with bract-like leaves
- Densely covered with silky hairs when immature
Length
- Pollen catkins 2–4 cm
- Seed catkins 2–6 cm
Colour
- Bracts dark brown with white hairs
Structure
- Dioecious
Floral timing
- Fully developed before the leaves appear
Fruits
Form
- Capsules cylindrical, long-beaked, hairy
Length
- Mature seed catkins up to 9 cm
- Capsules 7–12 mm
Bark
Colour
- Greyish-brown, tinged with red
Size
Height
- To 6 m
Tree form
Open-grown
Crown
- Branches upright
Habitat
Site
- Wet meadows, alder swamps and along shorelines
Photos
Photos
Insects and mites
Insects that cause damage to this tree.
-
Birch and alder flea weevil
Scientific name: Rhynchaenus testaceus (Mull)
-
Willow flea weevil
Scientific name: Isochnus rufipes (LeConte)
Foliage or buds
-
Bruce spanworm
Scientific name: Operophtera bruceata (Hulst)
-
Ceanothus silk moth
Scientific name: Hyalophora euryalis (Walker)
- Eulithis destinata (Moesch)
- Eupithecia subfuscata (Haworth)
-
Mourningcloak butterfly or spiny elm caterpillar
Scientific name: Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus)
-
Pero moth
Scientific name: Pero morrisonaria (Hy. Edwards)
-
Speckled green fruitworm
Scientific name: Orthosia hibisci (Guenée)
-
White slaut
Scientific name: Tetracis cachexiata (Guenée)
Roots, bark, stem or trunk, or branches
Diseases caused by pathogens
Diseases caused by pathogens that cause damage to this tree.
-
Fir-willow rust
Pathogen name: Melampsora abietis-capraearum Tub.
Foliage or buds
-
Hemlock-willow rust
Pathogen name: Melampsora epitea Thuem.
-
Tar spot (Rhytisma salicinum )
Pathogen name: Rhytisma salicinum (Pers.:Fr.) Fr.
-
Willow scab
Pathogen name: Venturia saliciperda (Nüesch)
Roots, bark, stem or trunk, or branches
Distribution map
