Salix acmophylla Boiss.

According to Görz (Feddes Rep. 28: 113-130. 1930) S. acmophylla hybridizes with S. alba.

Bark is reported to be a febrifuge (Kitikar & Basu, Ind. Med. Pl. ed. 2. 3: 2363. 1935).

Large shrub or small tree, branches glabrous with irregular, mainly vertical cracks, young branches hairy. Leaves 5-16 cm long, (5)-7-20 mm wide, linear lanceolate, acute-acuminate, entire or serrulate, green and glabrous above, pale beneath, silky when young. Petiole 2.5-9 mm long. Stipules minute, caducous. Flowers appearing after the leaves. Male catkin 1.5-4-(5) cm long, on short leafy shoots; peduncle 8-12 mm long, rachis villous. Bracts 1.5-2 mm long, ovate or oblong, villous, tip subacute. Stamens 4-6, filaments free, woolly towards base, anthers pale yellow. Disc of 2 yellow glands. Female catkin c. 2-2.5 cm long, on short leafy shoots, peduncle c. 2-3 mm, rachis villous, bracts as in the male catkin, disc opposite the bract, semi-annular, yellow; stipe 2-3 times the length of the gland. Ovary glabrous, style < 0.5 mm, stigmas 2. Fruiting catkin 2.5-5 cm long. Capsule ovoid, 3-5.5 mm, glabrous, stipe 0.4-1.8 (-2.5) mm long.

Distribution: Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Sinai, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, India and Central Asia.

Fl. Per.: February-April.