Salix aurita

Skye Flora

Eared Willow

Salix aurita

Photo © Carl Farmer
29 Sep 2001 Scorrybreac

Very common as stunted plants on moorland, can also grow to height of a small tree when not grazed

Leaves 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. Side-branches/twigs diverge at a wide angle. Catkins flower in April.

Salix aurita

Photo © Carl Farmer
18 Apr 2003 Scorrybreac
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

Typical winter moorland scene with scrubby patch of Eared Willow

Salix aurita

Dead leaves below the bushes in the previous picture

Safe from grazing but exposed to the elements

Photo © Carl Farmer 5 Jan 2003 Scorrybreac		Photo © Carl Farmer 5 Jan 2003 Scorrybreac
Winter buds