Salix triandra (Almond Willow or Almond-leaved Willow) is a species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia. It usually grows on river banks and wetlands.
It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 10m tall, usually multistemmed, with an irregular, often leaning crown. The bark is smooth grey-brown at first, becoming scaly on older stems with large scales exfoliating (like a plane tree) to leave orange-brown patches. The leaves are broad lanceolate, 4 - 11cm long and 1 - 3cm wide, with a serrated margin; they are dull dark green above and green to glaucous-green below, with a 1 – 2cm petiole with two conspicuous basal stipules. The flowers are produced in catkins in early spring at the same time as the new leaves, and pollinated by insects. They are dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate trees; the male catkins are 2.5 – 8cm long, the female catkins 2 - 4cm long. The male flowers have three stamens, a useful identification feature with most other willows having two or five stamens.
The scientific name derives from the male flowers having three stamens. The English name refers to the similarity in leaf shape to Almond leaves.
