| Salix magnifica | |
|---|---|
| |
| Conservation status | |
 Vulnerable (IUCN 2.3) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Salicaceae |
| Genus: | Salix |
| Species: | S. magnifica |
| Binomial name | |
| Salix magnifica Hemsl. | |
Salix magnifica is a species of willow in the family Salicaceae. It is endemic to Sichuan in southwestern China, where it grows at high altitudes of 2,100–3,000 m above sea level. It is threatened by habitat loss.
It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 6 m (20 ft) tall. The leaves are alternate, 10–25 cm long and 7–12 cm broad, with an entire margin; they are green above, and glaucous below, with red veins and petiole. The flowers are produced in catkins in late spring after the new leaves appear; it is dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate plants. The male catkins are 10 cm long; the female catkins are 10 cm long at pollination, expanding to 25 cm long at seed maturity.
The three varieties are:
- Salix magnifica var. magnifica
- Salix magnifica var. apatela (C.K.Schneider) K.S.Hao
- Salix magnifica var. ulotricha (C.K.Schneider) N.Chao
It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in western Europe for its bold foliage, with the largest leaves of any willow.
References
- ^ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Salix magnifica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T32452A9708079. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T32452A9708079.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ Flora of China: Salix magnifica
- ^ Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Salix magnifica |
|