Salix triandra

Salix triandra is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to tall, usually multistemmed, with an irregular, often leaning crown. Young bark is smooth grey-brown, becoming scaly on older stems with large scales exfoliating (like a plane tree) to leave orange-brown patches. The leaves are broad, lanceolate, 4–11 cm long and 1–3 cm wide, with a serrated margin; they are dull dark green above and green to glaucous-green below, with a 1–2-cm petiole with two conspicuous basal stipules. The flowers are produced in catkins in early spring at the same time as the new leaves, and pollinated by insects. They are dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate trees; the male catkins are 2.5–8 cm long, the female catkins 2–4 cm long. The male flowers have three stamens, a useful identification feature with most other willows having two or five stamens. ==Taxonomy==

The scientific name derives from the male flowers having three stamens. The English common name refers to the similarity in leaf shape to almond leaves. The variety Salix triandra var. hoffmanniana Bab., found in Great Britain, is distinguished by being smaller (rarely over tall) and densely branched, with smaller leaves 2–7 cm long and 1–2.5 cm wide not glaucous below. It is not considered distinct by all authorities, particularly on continental Europe, so its range outside Britain, if any, is not reported. ==Cultivation and uses==

The plant is a potential biomass source for biofuel energy generation. In the Russian honey industry, the plant is used as a nectar source for honeybees. ;Basket weaving The shoots (withies) are extensively used for basketmaking. It is one of the most important willows for this purpose after Salix viminalis, with several selected cultivars including: 'Black Maul', 'Grizette', 'Mottled Spaniards', 'Sarda', and 'Yellow Dutch'. Woven withies have been used in the creation of the large outdoor sculpture "Willow Man", located near Bridgwater in England. ==References==