Tree (prob native) ID please

[Dillybythesea]

I've posted this on the second thread I raised too, but thought you might be interested to know. Having sent a specimen for dissection to an entomologist friend, Richard Dickson, I received this response:

This one has no cavity. There is no frass (droppings), no silk, no shed skins - indeed I can say categorically that there has never been an invertebrate in it large enough to see without a microscope. The central core appears to be a thickened stem, and radiating out from this are what I believe to be distorted fruits of a female catkin.

Following up the suggestion of Andrew Halstead, I looked up the reference in the AIDGAP key to British Plant Galls. They write, "It is difficult to consider anything produced by a virus infection of plants as a gall, except possibly for the grossly distorted catkins of willows, Salix species (Fig. 3 Plate 8.2). This was originally thought to be due to a mite, Stenacis triradiatus.....but detailed anatomical studies by Wesphal & Michler demonstrated the presence of virus particles...." Elswhere he comments that these are "particularly prominent in winter".

[Brocakat]

With respect to the original picture, I 'm in mind that it's a Goat or Pussy Willow / Sallow. Salix caprea. After consulting my 'Collins Field Guide', - 'Tres of Britain & Northern Europe' , ( Author Alan Mitchell ) - the difference between S. caprea & S. cinera the Grey Willow, is that the foliage shoots are smooth,shiney & deep red-brown, whilst in the Grey Willow, the shoots are covered in short brown pubescence.
The above 2 species can be either trees or shrubs - The Dark-leaved Willow is only found as a shrub.
Hope that helps a bit.

[Dillybythesea]

Originally Posted by Brocakat

With respect to the original picture, I 'm in mind that it's a Goat or Pussy Willow / Sallow. Salix caprea. After consulting my 'Collins Field Guide', - 'Tres of Britain & Northern Europe' , ( Author Alan Mitchell ) - the difference between S. caprea & S. cinera the Grey Willow, is that the foliage shoots are smooth,shiney & deep red-brown, whilst in the Grey Willow, the shoots are covered in short brown pubescence.
The above 2 species can be either trees or shrubs - The Dark-leaved Willow is only found as a shrub.
Hope that helps a bit.

Only just came across this. Many thanks indeed (belatedly). Looking at the images of leaves of Salix caprea/ cinerea they look exactly as the tree does currently - oval, slightly leathery topside, paler underside . I guess I've missed the moment when I should have been looking at the foliage shoots. Ah well - there's always next year!

[poschiavanus]

Yes, these are a gall of unknown aetiology, or possibly just disturbed growth. They occur on several willows, but are by far and away most common on Goat Willow: useful for spotting the odd Goat Willow amongst Grey Willows in the winter.

[Dillybythesea]

Originally Posted by poschiavanus

by far and away most common on Goat Willow: useful for spotting the odd Goat Willow amongst Grey Willows in the winter.

Thank you - that's a very good tip!

[nightshade]

Can anyone recommend a good gall book with photos?