Skye Flora

Eared Willow

Salix aurita

 

Salix aurita

Photo © Carl Farmer
29 Sep 2001 Scorrybreac

Very common as low-growing bushes on moorland.  Can grow to height of a small tree on roadsides or woodland edge.

Leaves c 2-3 cm long

Skye ID: Leaves with pointed rather than rounded tip. grey-felted beneath, less than 3 times as long as broad, with a wrinkled appearance from above.

Other features: Leaves have large toothed stipules which remain all summer.  Leaf-stalks are small, less than 8mm.  Branches and twigs diverge at a wide angle.  Catkins flower in April.

 

 

Salix aurita

Photo © Carl Farmer
18 Apr 2003 Scorrybreac, Isle of Skye
This catkin 2.6 cm from base to tip and 7.5 mm across (excluding stamens) at widest point
 

Male catkin.  Each flower has two stamens arising from behind a black-tipped hairy scale

 

Salix aurita

Photo © Carl Farmer
17 Mar 2002 Portree, Isle of Skye
 

Typical winter moorland scene with scrubby patch of Eared Willow

 

Salix aurita

Photo © Carl Farmer
17 Mar 2002 Portree, Isle of Skye

Dead leaves below the bushes in the previous picture

  

Salix aurita

Photo © Carl Farmer
20 Aug 2002 Penifiler, Isle of Skye

Safe from grazing but exposed to the elements
 

 

Salix aurita

Photo © Carl Farmer
5 Jan 2003 Scorrybreac, Isle of Skye
 

   Salix aurita

Photo © Carl Farmer
5 Jan 2003 Scorrybreac, Isle of Skye
 
Winter buds


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