Salix atrocinerea

Salix atrocinerea
Salix atrocinerea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Salicaceae
Genus:	Salix
Species:	S. atrocinerea
Binomial name
Salix atrocinerea Brot.

Salix atrocinerea, commonly called grey willow, is a species of willow. It is a bush to little tree to 12 metres tall. A pioneer species of willow that quickly colonize poor soils.

Distribution

Its distribution is mostly Atlantic from West Europa and North Africa to some Mediterranean islands, and in North Africa. Naturally growing in Britain, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia... It is very common in the Iberian Peninsula, and is also found in Corsica, but fails in the Balearic Islands.

Ecology

The species hybridizes readily with other species of willow and many hybrids have been identified. the grey willow is also confused with other species of willow. It flowers from January until March or April, depending on location, with the spread of seeds anemocorous, ie through the wind, and occurs from April to March.

The grey willow lives in fresh land, with preference for the poor in bases, although this is a very hardy species and is even on beaches near the sea and even on islands. It is in sandy or gravel shores of rivers, streams and ponds, meadows, valleys and hedgerows with some soil moisture, is found from sea level to 2,000 m altitude, to the subalpine level.

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