a good distinguishing feature is a typical bark – brownish-gray, peeling off in plates similar to that of a plane tree (plane tree type of borka), the exposed young bark is cinnamon-brown
Buds
they are alternately built, ovate-conical, elongated
they are yellow, yellow-green to yellow-brown
Shoots
they are greyish-green to brownish-grey-green, smooth, glabrous faintly shiny
Leaves (assimilation organs)
they are simple, solid, elongated-lanceolate, 3-16 x 1-4 cm large (considerably variable in size)
the edge is finely serrated with glands in notches
the upper side is dark green, matte glossy
the underside is light green
Flowers
it is a dioecious tree species
flowers are catkins
flowers develop at the same time as the leaves develop
it flowers in IV – VI
Fruits – seeds
the fruit is a capsule
the seed is a Downy Achene
Extension
almost all of Europe, Western and Central Siberia, Central Asia and North Africa
it grows mainly on rich and moist soils, along watercourses from lowlands to foothills (800 m above the sea level).
Ecology
it requires moist, nutritious, calcareous, stony and loamy soils
Significance
it has a protective function when strengthening the banks of larger watercourses
it is also suitable for the production of rods for basket purposes
