Salix glauca

Silk Hairy willow ( Salix glauca )

The silk -haired willow, also Arctic gray willow ( Salix glauca ) is a species of the genus willow ( Salix).

Description

In sheltered areas, the silk -haired willow shrubs forms with plant height up to 3 meters. Mostly, however, they are found as a dwarf shrub that grows along the ground and even reaches 10 inches in height.

The simple, oblong- ovate to ovate leaves have a smooth edge and are 4 to 6 inches long. The strength of their hair varies.

The kitten -like inflorescences are yellowish to yellowish - brown. The capsule fruits are densely hairy.

Distribution and location

The silk -haired Willow is a circumpolar species with several subspecies and varieties. In Northern Europe and in the tundra of Russia Salix glauca L. is the subspecies subsp. glauca home. In North America, Iceland and Greenland on the subspecies Salix glauca comes subsp. callicarpaea ago, at the American Northwest Coast also the varieties of Salix glauca var acutifolia and Salix glauca var villosa.

The silk -haired willow grows mainly in dwarf shrub heaths, on herbaceous, species-rich tundra, Schneetälchen and along water courses. The substrate consists mostly of sand, silt or rocks.