Habit: Shrub, tree; dioecious; bud scale 1, not sticky, margins generally fused (or free, overlapping).
Stem: twigs generally flexible, generally not glaucous.
Leaf: generally alternate; stipules generally vestigial on first leaves, leaf-like on later; mature blade linear to broadly obovate, entire to toothed, generally +- hairy; petiole glands generally 0.
Inflorescence: catkin, blooming before, with, or after leaves, sessile or terminating +- short leafy or bracted shoot ("on leafy shoot" or "on bracted shoot," "catkin length" including leafless or bractless part of subtending shoot); 1 flower bract subtending each flower, deciduous or persistent, brown, black, or 2-colored (paler proximally, darker distally; darker generally +- brown).
Flower: perianth reduced to adaxial nectary (rarely also with abaxial nectary, then free or fused into shallow cup).
Staminate Flower: stamens (1)2(10); nectary generally 1.
Pistillate Flower: ovary stalked or sessile, style generally 1, stigmas 2, each 2-lobed, deciduous or persistent; nectary generally 1, generally rod-like.
Fruit: valves 2.
Species In Genus: +- 450 species: +- worldwide, especially northern temperate, arctic.
Etymology: (Latin: ancient name)
Note: Difficult, highly variable, many hybrids. Not all specimens key easily; sprouts, other extreme forms not included in keys, may require field comparisons. Studies of chromosome numbers, hybridization needed. Inclusion of
Salix sessilifolia Nutt. in TJM (1993) based on misidentification of plants belonging to
Salix melanopsis. Fruit length as given throughout excludes the stalk (stipe). Hair lengths: minute, < +- 0.5 mm; short, +- 0.5 mm; long, > +- 0.5 mm.
Salix commutata Bebb, treated as misapplied to
Salix eastwoodiae in TJM (1993), may occur in northern California mountains;
Salix bonplandiana expected in s-most California. For alternate treatments, see Dorn (e.g., 2000 Brittonia 52:1--19).
Jepson eFlora Author: George W. Argus
Reference: Argus 1997 Madroño 44:115--136
Unabridged Reference: Dorn, R. D. 1995. A taxonomic study of Salix section Cordatae subsection Luteae (Salicaceae). Brittonia 47: 160--174. Dorn, R. D. 1998. A taxonomic study of Salix section Longifoliae (Salicaceae) Brittonia 50: 193--210. Dorn, R. D. 2000. A taxonomic study of Salix sections Mexicanae and Viminella subsection Sitchenses (Salicaceae) in North America. Brittonia 52: 1--19.Index of California Plant Names (ICPN; linked via the Jepson Online Interchange)Key to Salix
Previous taxon: Populus trichocarpaNext taxon: Salix alba