If you had trouble accessing the site yesterday, it was because of some flakiness in the connection between the university and the rest of the world that affected both incoming and outgoing communications. I hope you weren't inconvenienced too much.
I doubt this photograph would win any awards for technical composition. However, I think the subject is a good companion to yesterday's image with its similar shapes and patterns, so that's why it's posted. I should mention (full disclosure!) that I cloned out a distracting branch with catkins in the lower left.
Black willow or black pussy willow is a dark-bracted variant of rosegold pussy willow, Salix gracilistyla. The species is native to east Asia, but this particular cultivar has its origins in the gardens of Japan. To read more, Paghat has an excellent account about it: Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys'. You'll note that on her site (and in many other places), Salix gracilistyla var. melanostachys is used; I'm speculating, but I suspect that when this plant was first described by scientists, its garden origin was not known and so was thought to be a naturally-occurring variety (hence var. melanostachys). When it was determined to be of cultivated origin, the scientific name could no longer apply, hence the transformation to a cultivar name, 'Melanostachys'.
In other news, I submitted the BPotD entry on Taxodium distichum to the latest issue of the Tangled Bank (#46). If you'd like to read some of the best science weblog writing on the web or discover other science-themed weblogs, the Tangled Bank is for you!
Natural history resource link: I had reason to visit the web site of the Natural History Museum in London, England yesterday, and was quite impressed – much to explore (don't miss the “Nature Online” section) and it is presented crisply.
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
Another great photograph ! and thanks for the reference to Paghat - very interesting and informative. It all makes me wish I was living in your part of the West Coast and not the Toronto area.
They look like little macaws perched in a tree!
Or did I mean toucans???
Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys' - Z6 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys' - Z5-8 - A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Brickell, Cole, Zuk
Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys' - Z5 - Heronswood Nursery catalogue, 2005
Amazing photo of Salix gracilistylis - they look like a roost of turkey vultures!
Peak of interest is when brightly contrasting yellow-and-red anthers appear against black background of main catkin.
This is great shrub for the garden, in addition to the catkins it forms quite a nice shape. We have it growing over the edge of our wildlife pond.
Melanostachys...
This plant looks like it stepped right out of 'Terry Prachetts';
"Dungeon Dimensions". Beautiful specimen.
On a more "macro" note, they look like strange claws! I'm a relatively new reader of BPD and just love it. Thank you for a wonderful, informative site. I especially appreciate the links to other good sites along with the photos.
What are the common names for?
salix gracilistyla melanostachy
and where may I get these for my own garden> or is that possible