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Salix discolor
| Family Name: | Salicaceae |
| Common Name: | Pussy Willow, American pussy willow, 银芽柳, 银柳 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | North America |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Coastal Forest, Freshwater Swamp Forest, Riverine) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Temperate |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Flowers | Occur in silky dense catkins which are the best known pussy willow feature. Mature fruiting female catkins are typically 2 - 12 cm long, while mature fruiting male catkins are 1 - 5 cm long. |
|---|---|
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Cut - Dried Flower: Pussy willow twigs with immature catkins are used in floral arrangement. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Stems, Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Insects (Bee)), Abiotic (Wind) |
|---|
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Does not Drain Site), Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Deciduous |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green - Bluish Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Rough |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) Remarks | Blue green above, pale green below. |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody, Single, Multiple |
|---|---|
| Bark Colour(s) | Brown |
| Mature Bark Texture | Fissured |
| Mature Bark Texture Remarks | Initially smooth, become split and shallowly furrowed or scaly with age. |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth, Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flowering Period Remarks | Late winter or early spring. In the long term, this plant is not likely to flower in Singapore because flower it require cool temperature to flower. |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
| Mature Seed Texture(s) | Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31673 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6072 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
