Photo © Robert Moseley CLICK PHOTO FOR A LARGER IMAGE

Salix candida Fluegge ex Willd.

Hoary Willow

Salicaceae (Willow family)

General Description: A freely-branched, low- to medium-sized shrub, 0.2-1.5 m tall. Twigs of the season are thinly to moderately tomentose on early season growth, becoming very dense on late season growth. Some of the pubescence usually persists into the second year. Leaves are mostly oblanceolate to narrowly oblong, the larger ones about 5-8 cm long and 0.7-1.5 cm wide, and with entire and inrolled margins. The lower leaf surfaces are covered with a dense, white, felt-like tomentum comprised of fine, tangled hairs; the upper surface glabrous or only thinly pubescent. The catkins are nearly sessile, the staminate ones about 1-2 cm long, and the pistillate ones mostly 1-3 cm long. The ovaries and capsules are pubescent and borne on short stipes. The persistent floral bracts are pale to dark brown.

Illustration.

Photo © Robert Moseley CLICK PHOTO FOR A LARGER IMAGE

Field Identification Tips: Readily distinguished by its relatively short stature and dense, white, felt-like tomentum on the lower leaf surfaces and twigs.

Phenology: Flowers in May-June. Its distinguishing vegetative characters allow this species to be identified throughout the summer.

Similar Species: Salix brachycarpa which is similar in stature, floral morphology, and habitat can resemble S. candida, especially early in the season. However, S. candida has notably longer and narrower leaves that are more densely wooly-white beneath and have revolute margins. Salix wolfii has shorter leaves with silvery, appressed hairs on both top and bottom surfaces.

Habitat: Bogs, fens, marshes, pond edges, and seepage areas.

Global Distribution: From Alaska to Labrador, south to New Jersey, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.

Photo © Robert Moseley CLICK PHOTO FOR A LARGER IMAGE

Idaho Distribution: Boundary and Bonner counties in the Panhandle region, and Butte, Custer, Lemhi, Fremont, Teton, and Caribou counties in the east-central and eastern parts of the state.

References:

Brunsfeld, S. J., and F. D. Johnson. 1985. Field guide to the willows of east-central Idaho. University of Idaho, Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station Bulletin No. 39. Moscow. 95 pp.

Dorn, R. D. 1997. Rocky Mountain region willow identification field guide. Renewable Resources R2-RR-97-01. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Denver, CO. 107 pp.

Moseley, R. K. 1989. Field investigations of 16 rare plant taxa occurring in wetlands on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Unpublished report prepared for the Panhandle National Forests by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Conservation Data Center, Boise. 75 pp. plus appendices.

Moseley, R. K. 1990. Field investigations of eight rare plant taxa occurring in wetlands on the Sandpoint Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Unpublished report prepared for the Panhandle National Forests by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Conservation Data Center, Boise. 42 pp. plus appendices.

Spackman, S., B. Jennings, J. Coles, C. Dawson, M. Minton, A. Kratz, and C. Spurrier. 1997. Colorado Rare Plant Field Guide. Prepared for the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program.