Salix planifolia
Encyclopedia
Salix planifolia is a species of willow
known by the common names diamondleaf willow and tea-leafed willow. It is native to northern and western North America, including most all of Canada, Alaska
, and the western United States. It grows in many types of arctic
and alpine
habitat in the north, and mountainous areas in the south.
varying in size from low and bushy, to long thickets, to a treelike form 9 meters in height. The leaves are generally oval in shape with pointed tips, measuring up to 6.5 centimeters long. They are smooth-edged or serrated, glossy on the upper surface, and sometimes with silky hairs. The inflorescence
is a catkin
of flowers a few centimeters long.
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
known by the common names diamondleaf willow and tea-leafed willow. It is native to northern and western North America, including most all of Canada, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, and the western United States. It grows in many types of arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
and alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
habitat in the north, and mountainous areas in the south.
Description
Salix planifolia is a shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
varying in size from low and bushy, to long thickets, to a treelike form 9 meters in height. The leaves are generally oval in shape with pointed tips, measuring up to 6.5 centimeters long. They are smooth-edged or serrated, glossy on the upper surface, and sometimes with silky hairs. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a catkin
Catkin
A catkin or ament is a slim, cylindrical flower cluster, with inconspicuous or no petals, usually wind-pollinated but sometimes insect pollinated . They contain many, usually unisexual flowers, arranged closely along a central stem which is often drooping...
of flowers a few centimeters long.