West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Is a very low-growing willow, a shrub not more than 2.5m in height. We don't get them as tall round here as sadly they always mow this verge. But they try to come up every year.

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (01/09/2021) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Is a very low-growing willow, a shrub not more than 2.5m in height. We don't get them as tall round here as sadly they always mow this verge. But they try to come up every year.

West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). These are the male catkins - the centre one with spent anthers, the lower one with fresh anthers. Sadly no pics of females (which are on separate plants).

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (02/04/2022) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). These are the male catkins - the centre one with spent anthers, the lower one with fresh anthers. Sadly no pics of females (which are on separate plants).

West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). These are the male catkins wiith their lovely yellow anthers.

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (02/04/2022) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). These are the male catkins wiith their lovely yellow anthers.

West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Male catkins - here the anthers are spent.

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (02/04/2022) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Male catkins - here the anthers are spent.

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (02/04/2022) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Close up of spent male anthers.

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (16/04/2022) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Male catkin, anthers now dying off.

West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield (turning towards the main Henfield Road). Classic leaf with its purply-red tinge although they lower leaves tend to be green. It is named "Eared" because of the kidney-shaped stipule with the little red bit which you can just see where the petiole joins the stem (other willows do not have this).

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (01/09/2021) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield (turning towards the main Henfield Road). Classic leaf with its purply-red tinge although they lower leaves tend to be green. It is named "Eared" because of the kidney-shaped stipule with the little red bit which you can just see where the petiole joins the stem (other willows do not have this).

West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Also petioles are reddish - you can see lots of the little kidney-shaped stipules along the shoots here.

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (01/09/2021) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Also petioles are reddish - you can see lots of the little kidney-shaped stipules along the shoots here.

West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Close-up of those "ears" - stipules. Defining feature of Eared Willow.

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (01/09/2021) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Close-up of those "ears" - stipules. Defining feature of Eared Willow.

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (01/09/2021) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane).

West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). This species is also said to be wrinkly leaved and leaves have a twisted tip most evident on the upper leaves, as here.

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (01/09/2021) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). This species is also said to be wrinkly leaved and leaves have a twisted tip most evident on the upper leaves, as here.

Eared Willow (Salix aurita) (16/04/2022) West Mill Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex (near turning to New Hall Lane). Baby leaves.