Salix orestera |
Salix pyrifolia |
|
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gray-leaf Sierra willow, gray-leafed Sierra willow, Sierra willow |
balsam willow |
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Habit | Plants 0.5–2 m. Stems: branches dark red-brown or yellow-brown, not to strongly glaucous, glabrous; branchlets yellow-brown or red-brown, (not or weakly glaucous), pilose or pubescent, hairs straight, wavy, or geniculate, (inner membranaceous bud-scale layer free, separating from outer layer). | Plants 0.4–4 m. Stems: branches red-brown, not glaucous, (highly glossy), glabrous; branchlets red-brown, yellow-brown, or yellowish, (not or weakly glaucous), glabrous, (inner membranaceous bud-scale layer free, not separating from outer layer). |
Leaves | stipules foliaceous, rudimentary, or absent on early ones, foliaceous on late ones, apex acute; petiole convex to flat, or shallowly grooved adaxially, 4–9 mm, pilose adaxially; largest medial blade (sometimes amphistomatous), lorate, narrowly oblong, narrowly elliptic, or oblanceolate, 35–95 × 7.5–20 mm, 3.4–7.1 times as long as wide, base cuneate or convex, margins flat or slightly revolute, entire, apex acute, acuminate, or convex, abaxial surface glaucous (sometimes obscured by hairs), sparsely to moderately densely long- to short-silky or pubescent, hairs (white, sometimes also ferruginous), straight or wavy, adaxial dull or slightly glossy, sparsely or moderately densely pubescent or long- to short-silky, (hairs white, sometimes also ferruginous); proximal blade margins entire or serrulate; juvenile blade densely long-silky abaxially, hairs white, sometimes also ferruginous. |
stipules (early deciduous), foliaceous or rudimentary on early ones, foliaceous on late ones, apex acute, convex, or rounded; petiole convex to flat, or shallowly grooved adaxially, 7–20 mm, glabrous or sparsely velvety adaxially; largest medial blade narrowly oblong, oblong, elliptic, or broadly elliptic, 30–103 × 19–40 mm, 1.5–3.4 times as long as wide, base cordate, subcordate, rounded or convex, margins flat or slightly revolute, serrulate, irregularly serrate, crenate, or sinuate, apex acute or acuminate, abaxial surface glaucous, glabrous, adaxial slightly or highly glossy, glabrous; proximal blade margins serrulate or entire; juvenile blade translucent, glabrous or pilose abaxially, hairs white. |
Staminate flowers | adaxial nectary oblong or ovate, 0.6–1.1 mm; filaments distinct or connate less than 1/2 their lengths, hairy basally; anthers purple turning yellow, 0.6–1 mm. |
adaxial nectary square or ovate, 0.3–0.5 mm; filaments distinct, glabrous or sparsely hairy basally; anthers yellow, (ellipsoid or shortly cylindrical), 0.5–0.8 mm. |
Pistillate flowers | adaxial nectary oblong or flask-shaped, 0.7–1.3 mm, shorter than or equal to stipe; stipe 0.8–2 mm; ovary obclavate or pyriform, short-silky-villous, beak gradually tapering to or slightly bulged below styles; ovules 15–16 per ovary; styles 0.6–1 mm; stigmas flat, abaxially non-papillate with rounded or pointed tip, or broadly cylindrical, 0.24–0.32–0.44 mm. |
adaxial nectary narrowly ovate or square, 0.3–0.7 mm, shorter than stipe; stipe 1.8–3.5 mm; ovary obclavate, glabrous, beak slightly bulged below styles; ovules 10–19 per ovary; styles 0.4–0.5 mm; stigmas flat, abaxially non-papillate with rounded tip, or 2 plump lobes, 0.2–0.23–0.32 mm. |
Capsules | 5–10 mm. |
7–8 mm. |
Catkins | flowering as leaves emerge; staminate stout, 15.5–34 × 7–14 mm, flowering branchlet 1–8 mm; pistillate moderately densely flowered, stout, 20–55(–65 in fruit) × 11–13 mm, flowering branchlet 2–15 mm; floral bract dark brown or bicolor, 1.2–2.5 mm, apex acute or rounded, abaxially hairy, hairs straight or wavy. |
staminate flowering just before leaves emerge, pistillate flowering as leaves emerge; staminate stout or slender, 18.5–63 × 7–15 mm, flowering branchlet 1–5 mm; pistillate loosely flowered, stout or slender, 25–85 × 8–20 mm, flowering branchlet 2–22 mm; floral bract tawny, 1–2.4 mm, apex acute or convex, abaxially sparsely to moderately densely hairy, hairs straight or wavy. |
2n | = 38. |
|
Salix orestera |
Salix pyrifolia |
|
Phenology | Flowering late May-late Aug. | Flowering May-mid Jun(-mid Jul in subalpine). |
Habitat | Subalpine meadows, slopes, lakes, streams, granite substrates | Fens, wet lake and slough margins, treed bogs |
Elevation | 2100-4000 m (6900-13100 ft) | 0-300 m (-1600 m in subalpine) (0-1000 ft (-5200 ft in subalpine)) |
Distribution |
CA; NV; OR
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ME; MI; MN; NH; NY; VT; WI; AB; BC; MB; NB; NL; NS; NT; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT
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Discussion | Salix orestera is so similar to S. glauca var. villosa that it is sometimes included in S. glauca. It is phenetically most similar to S. eastwoodiae and S. lemmonii (G. W. Argus 1997), and the possibility that it is a hybrid or an alloploid involving those species needs study. Salix orestera can be distinguished from S. glauca var. villosa in having largest medial blades usually narrower, 3.4–7.1 times as long as wide, abaxial surfaces distinctly silky with appressed hairs pointing toward apex, hairs sometimes ferruginous, secondary veins raised abaxially and adaxially, branches often strongly glaucous, and staminate flowers without abaxial nectaries; S. glauca var. villosa has largest medial blades usually broader, 2.2–3.9 times as long as wide, abaxial surfaces usually glabrescent or, if hairy, hairs unkempt, slightly spreading, hairs always white, secondary veins raised abaxially, flat or impressed adaxially, branches not glaucous, staminate flowers often with abaxial nectaries. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Salix pyrifolia is characterized by juvenile leaves membranaceous and translucent, and largest medial leaves subcoriaceous, with abaxial surfaces reticulate, and with bases often cordate. Buds and foliage are reported to have a balsam-like fragrance. Hybrids: Salix pyrifolia forms natural hybrids with S. brachycarpa var. psammophila. Hybrids with S. discolor have been reported (C. K. Schneider 1921; M. L. Fernald 1950) but no convincing specimens have been seen. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 7, p. 108. | FNA vol. 7, p. 115. |
Parent taxa | Salicaceae > Salix > subg. Vetrix > sect. Hastatae | Salicaceae > Salix > subg. Vetrix > sect. Hastatae |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | S. commutata var. rubicunda, S. glauca subsp. orestera, S. glauca var. orestera | S. balsamifera, S. pyrifolia var. lanceolata |
Name authority | C. K. Schneider: J. Arnold Arbor. 1: 164. (1920) | Andersson: Monogr. Salicum, 162, plate 8, fig. 93. (1867) |
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