Weed Identification

Australia > NSW > NSW North Coast (IBRA) > Chilean Pencil Willow

Chilean Pencil Willow

Salix humboldtiana 'Pyramidalis '

THIS PLANT HAS BEEN DECLARED A WEED OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Alternative Name(s): Often referred to as Salix chilensis 'Fastigiata', but Salix chilensis is of uncertain identity and may not be a Salix.

Family: Salicaceae. Genus: Salix. Subgenus: Salix ('tree' willows).

Form: Tree

Origin: Southern Mexico to Chile, Argentina and southern Brazil.

Flowers/Seedhead: Plants male in Australia. Flower spikes (catkins) to 10 cm long and 1 cm wide.

Description: Tree to about 15 m high. Bark more or less smooth on branches, slightly fissured on trunk. Twigs green-brown to red. Leaves to 15 cm long and 1 cm wide; only male catkins on clone planted in Australia.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by columnar shape; being semi-evergreen (many green leaves remaining over winter).

Dispersal: Spread by rooting of detached branches and twigs.


Leaves, stems & red-green twigs
Fyansford, Vic, Sept
photo S. Holland-Clift

Notes: Planted in gardens, especially along fence lines and driveways. Common along coast from Nowra to Cairns, and occasionally inland. Not often recorded as naturalised. Tolerant of a wide range of climatic conditions. Flowering seldom recorded in Australia. The Salix humboldtiana 'Pyramidalis' cultivar appears to produce very little viable pollen, however at least two hybrids with this cultivar as the male parent have been recorded in Australia.

References:

    Flora of NSW. G. Harden and L. Murray (eds), Supplement to Vol. 1, 2000, pages 61–67.

Web References: Search Australian web sites for further information on this weed.

Leaves & reddish twigs
Bellingen, NSW, Nov
Bark
photo S. Holland-Clift
On channel bank
Bilbul, NSW, Jan

This weed has been included in the WEEDeck field guide as card T30

More information about WEEDeck is available from Sainty & Associates Pty. Ltd.

 

Australia > NSW > NSW North Coast (IBRA) > Chilean Pencil Willow

SITE MAP

Site Map

National Weeds Strategy | Weed Identification | State and Territory Contacts | About Weeds Australia
Australian Weeds Committee | Target Species for Biological Control | Training and Materials
Web Addresses | Feedback | Weeds of National Significance | Noxious Weeds List
Glossary of Acronyms | National Weeds Management Facilitator

National Weeds Strategy
Telephone: (03) 6344 9657
Fax: (03) 6343 1877
Email: jthorp@weeds.org.au

Privacy Statement

Legal Notice

 Site Design - Computer Support Tasmania
© Australian Weeds Committee
National Weeds Strategy State and Territory Contacts Australian Weeds Committee Web Addresses and Other Stuff Weeds of National Significance Glossary of Acronyms Weed Identification & Information About Weeds Australia Target Species for Biological Control Training and Materials Feedback Noxious Weeds List Search Weeds Australia National Weeds Management Facilitator Home