Salicaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Salix purpurea

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Salix purpurea is a graceful, slender-stemmed, deciduous shrub or occasionally a small tree that can grow up to 10 metres tall, though is more commonly within the range 1 - 4 metres[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. , 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It produces excellent quality stems for basket making and has a long history of cultivation for this purpose, there are several named forms. It is also planted on banks to stabilize the soil, and is grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a hedge. Salix purpurea has a widespread distribution, stable populations and no major threats. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurope - Britain to Spain, east to southern Russia, Ukraine and the Balkans; N. Africa - Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia

HabitatWet places in lowland areas[ 13 Title Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Publication Author Triska. Dr. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1975 ISBN 0-600-33545-3 Description Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore. , 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ], preferring neutral or alkaline soils[ 186 Title Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Publication Author Beckett. G. and K. Publisher Jarrold Year 1979 ISBN - Description An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants. ]. Shores, canals, wet meadows, coppices, and sands[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].