WILLOW: Weed Assessment

Go to: http://www.weeds.asn.au/tasmanian-weeds/view-by-common-name/crack-willow/

CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Description: Salix fragilis is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree, which grows rapidly to 10–20 m (33–66 ft) (rarely to 29 m (95 ft)) tall, with a trunk up to 1 m (3.3 ft) diameter, often multi-trunked, and an irregular, often leaning crown. The bark is dark grey-brown, coarsely fissured in older trees. The lanceolate leaves are bright green, 9–15 cm long and 1.5–3 cm wide, with a finely serrated margin; they are very finely hairy at first in spring, but soon become hairless. The flowers are produced in catkins in early spring, and pollinated by insects. They are dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate trees; the male catkins are 4–6 cm long, the female catkins are also 4–6 cm long, with the individual flowers having either one or two nectaries. In late spring fruit capsules release numerous small cotton-tufted seeds. They are easily distributed by wind and moving water, and germinate immediately after soil contact.

Go to Wild Pussy Willow – A Ticking Time Bomb ... CLICK HERE

Scientific Name:  Salix cinerea L. .... Synonyms Salix atrocinerea Brot. ... Salix caprea L. (misapplied) ... Salix cinerea L. subsp. cinerea ... Salix cinerea L. subsp. oleifolia (Sm.) Macreight Family Salicaceae ... Common Names common sallow, gray sallow, gray willow, grey sallow, grey willow, grey-leaved sallow, large gray willow, pussy willow, rusty sallow ... Origin Native to most of Europe, Russia and western Asia (i.e. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan). Cultivation Grey sallow (Salix cinerea) has been widely planted around waterbodies and along waterways in the temperate regions of Australia, mainly to prevent soil erosion.... Naturalised Distribution Widely naturalised in south-eastern Australia (i.e. in many parts of eastern New South Wales, in the ACT, in Victoria and Tasmania, and in south-eastern South Australia). Also sparingly naturalised in the sub-coastal districts of south-eastern Queensland. Naturalised overseas in North America (i.e. eastern Canada and eastern USA) and New Zealand.... Habitat A weed of waterways, riparian vegetation, lake edges, billabongs, swamps and wetlands in wetter temperate regions.

• WIKIPEDIA tells us that there is something like 350 species of 'willow' so the question arises in regard to which species could be safely planted in Tasmania for WILLOWweaving use and 'wetlands management'. 
• SEE LIST OF SPECIES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Salix_species

FOOTNOTE FROM A TASMANIAN WILLOWweaver

"For what it is worth, I believe that the weeds people have not proven the case that willows are a major weed problem. Crack willow (Salix fragilis) largely has a widespread distribution because it was consciously planted for basketry. It is an excellent willow for 'green' rough basketry. It deserves to be controlled but not eliminated entirely. 

I grow osier willow, black willow, golden upright willow, pussy willow and a small Japanese willow for different aspects of basketry. Crack willow I harvest from roadsides and other public places. My willows are pollarded so the wallabies do not eat them and I harvest one year old rods so they do not reproduce by seed. 

It is a hobby not a business so I do not achieve the quality of the Ballards or Mr DiLullo."