Salix planifolia
Salix pseudomyrsinites
diamond-leaf willow, plane-leaf willow, tea-leaf willow, tea-leafed willow
firmleaf willow, tall blueberry willow
(sometimes decumbent);
branches yellow-brown, red-brown, or violet, not to strongly glaucous, glabrous or pubescent;
branchlets yellow-brown, red-brown, or violet, glabrous, pilose, pubescent, moderately densely villous, or short-silky, (buds caprea-type).
stipules (sometimes marcescent), rudimentary or foliaceous (small and usually brownish) on early ones, rudimentary or foliaceous on late ones, (narrowly ovate to oblong, 1–2.5(–4.5) mm), apex acute;
petiole shallowly grooved adaxially, 2–9(–13) mm, glabrous, pilose, or short-silky adaxially;
largest medial blade (sometimes hemiamphistomatous), narrowly oblong, narrowly elliptic, elliptic, or oblanceolate, 20–36–65 × 5–13–23 mm, 1.7–2.8–4.7 times as long as wide, base cuneate or convex, margins sometimes slightly revolute basally, entire, or, sometimes, crenulate or serrulate, apex acute, acuminate, or convex, abaxial surface glaucous, glabrous or sparsely silky, hairs (white, sometimes also ferruginous) straight or wavy, adaxial highly glossy, glabrous or sparsely short-silky;
proximal blade margins entire;
juvenile blade reddish or yellowish green, glabrous, puberulent, pubescent, or densely long-silky abaxially, hairs white, sometimes also ferruginous.
stipules rudimentary or foliaceous on early ones, foliaceous on late ones, (0.6–8 mm), apex acute or obtuse;
petiole shallowly to deeply grooved adaxially, 2.5–8 mm, glabrous or villous adaxially;
largest medial blade (sometimes amphistomatous), narrowly to broadly elliptic, oblong to oblanceolate or obovate, 32–109 × 10–47 mm, 1.8–4.8 times as long as wide, base convex, cuneate, or subcordate, sometimes cordate, margins flat, entire, crenate, or serrulate, apex acute, convex, or acuminate, abaxial surface not glaucous, glabrous or pilose, hairs (white, sometimes also ferruginous), wavy, adaxial slightly glossy, glabrous, pilose, pubescent, moderately densely short-silky, or velvety, midrib remaining pilose or short-hairy, (hairs sometimes also ferruginous, straight and geniculate);
proximal blade margins serrulate or entire;
juvenile blade sometimes reddish or yellowish green, abaxially glabrous, or midrib sparsely pubescent, or densely villous or short-silky, hairs white, sometimes also ferruginous.
adaxial nectary narrowly oblong or oblong, 0.4–1.1 mm;
filaments distinct, glabrous or sparsely hairy basally;
anthers purple turning yellow, shortly cylindrical, 0.5–0.7 mm.
adaxial nectary oblong square, 0.2–0.4–0.6 mm;
filaments distinct, glabrous;
anthers purple turning yellow, 0.4–0.7 mm.
adaxial nectary oblong, square, or ovate, 0.4–1.3 mm, shorter to longer than stipe;
stipe 0.3–0.8 mm;
ovary pyriform, short- to long-silky, sometimes slightly bulged below styles;
ovules 11–16 per ovary;
styles 0.5–2 mm;
stigmas slenderly to broadly cylindrical, 0.36–0.52–1.1 mm.
adaxial nectary square or oblong, 0.2–0.4 mm, shorter than stipe;
stipe 0.8–1.4 mm;
ovary pyriform, glabrous, beak slightly bulged below styles;
ovules 11–18 per ovary;
styles 0.4–1.6 mm;
stigmas flat, abaxially non-papillate with rounded tip, or 2 plump lobes, 0.16–0.24–0.32 mm.
(2.5–)5.5–6 mm.
4.4–6.4 mm.
flowering before leaves emerge; staminate stout, subglobose, or globose, 12–41 × 10–20 mm, flowering branchlet 0–4 mm; pistillate densely flowered, slender, or stout to globose, 15–67(–70 in fruit) × 8–18 mm, flowering branchlet 0–6 mm;
floral bract dark brown or black, 1–3.2 mm, apex acute, convex, or rounded, sometimes 2-fid, abaxially hairy, hairs straight.
flowering as leaves emerge; staminate stout, 16.5–35.5 × 7–15 mm, flowering branchlet 0.5–12 mm; pistillate moderately or densely flowered, slender or stout, 10.5–68 × 5–20 mm, flowering branchlet 0.5–10 mm;
floral bract brown, black, tawny, or bicolor, 0.6–1.1 mm, apex retuse, abaxially hairy, hairs long-wavy or curly.
= 76, 57.
= 76.
Salix planifolia
Salix pseudomyrsinites
Variety monica applies to the diminutive alpine form that sometimes is recognized in the southern Rocky Mountains (S. J. Brunsfeld and F. D. Johnson 1985); it occurs at higher elevations (2200–4000 m) and is characterized by low growth form (0.14–1 m) and smaller, slightly broader leaves. Although it can be distinctive, it is morphologically confluent with the typical species. B. G. O. Floderus (1939) may be correct in characterizing it as an alpine ecotype.
Salix planifolia and S. pulchra are closely related. Their ranges overlap in northwestern Canada, from northern British Columbia across the southern quarter of the Yukon and northeastward into the Great Bear Lake area. Specimens identified as S. pulchra occur as far northeastward as Coppermine and northeast of Bathurst Inlet; S. planifolia has been recognized in the Mackenzie Delta and Eskimo Lake regions, Northwest Territories. Outlying records should be treated with caution because identification of individual specimens out of context may not be definitive. G. W. Argus (1969, 1973) treated these taxa as subspecies based on their intergradation in northwestern British Columbia, their tetraploid chromosome number, and their similar leaf flavonoid chromatographic patterns, but this taxonomy needs reconsideration.
The primary differences between the two species are stipule size, shape, and persistence and the pubescence on juvenile leaves. Stipules of Salix planifolia are oblong to narrowly elliptic or obovate, 0.8–3 mm (or –4.5 mm at Back River, Northwest Territories), distinctly shorter than petioles, and rarely marcescent for more than one year; stipules of S. pulchra are linear to narrowly oblong, 3–32 mm, usually longer than petioles, and usually marcescent for two or more years. Juvenile leaves of S. planifolia are usually more densely hairy, but vary from glabrescent to sparsely or very densely pubescent or long-silky, whereas juvenile leaves of S. pulchra are usually glabrous or, sometimes, sparsely hairy. The occurrence of rhombic mature leaf blades in S. pulchra sometimes is distinctive, but overlap in leaf shape between the two taxa is very great.
The area of geographic overlap in Yukon and western Northwest Territories is large, but evidence suggests that there the two species may be separated by elevation. In the vicinity of Whitehorse, Yukon, Salix pulchra occurs at higher elevations (1400–1900 m) than S. planifolia (ca. 1000 m); no mixed populations were seen. In Nahanni National Park, Northwest Territories, where S. planifolia is more common than S. pulchra, the latter occurs only in alpine and subalpine habitats (1200–1400 m). Evidence from both localities indicates an elevational separation of the two taxa. Within the area of overlap there is little evidence of intergradation except that S. planifolia has stipules that tend to be more marcescent (40% are marcescent) and sometimes longer (2–3.5 mm) than is usual outside the area of overlap. Nevertheless, specimens from the area of overlap can be easily assigned to one taxon or the other with only a few apparent intermediates. The problem in recognizing intermediacy is that there are only a few, variable characters that separate the two. In contrast, in 1973, G. W. Argus described evidence of hybridization and introgression along the Haines Road in northwestern British Columbia. This was based on variation in stipule size, presence, and persistence in what appeared to be a hybrid swarm. Further data are needed to answer questions about actual hybridization. Are the species separated by habitat or elevation, and are there reproductive barriers? Answers could be gained by population studies and controlled hybridization. Until that is done it is best to treat these taxa as species.
See 76. Salix discolor and 95a. S. alaxensis var. alaxensis for comparative descriptions.
Hybrids:
Salix planifolia forms natural hybrids with S. alaxensis var. alaxensis, S. argyrocarpa, S. brachycarpa var. brachycarpa, S. candida, S. drummondiana, S. humilis, S. pellita, S. pulchra, and S. scouleriana. Hybrids with S. glauca var. cordifolia have been reported (C. K. Schneider 1921) but no convincing specimens have been seen.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Salix pseudomyrsinites occurs in Nunavut on Akimiski Island in James Bay.
Salix pseudomyrsinites and S. myrtillifolia, although sometimes treated as conspecific (R. D. Dorn 1975), deserve species rank. They differ in chromosome number and are distinct in habit, habitat, and general appearance, including glossiness of leaves, as well as a number of technical characteristics (L. A. Viereck and E. L. Little Jr. 1972; G. W. Argus 1973, 1997). There is no field evidence of hybridization, but some herbarium specimens appear to be intermediates, having the habit or habitat of one species and the leaf hairiness of the other.
Salix myrtillifolia is distinguished from S. pseudomyrsinites by having shrubs low, decumbent, 0.1–0.6 m, rarely to 1 m, of treed bogs and fens, juvenile and mature leaves typically glabrous, stipules usually rudimentary, 0.2–1.8(–5) mm, and styles often shorter, 0.3–0.7 mm; S. pseudomyrsinites has shrubs tall, erect, 1–7 m, of riparian habitats, juvenile leaves pubescent with hairs persisting on mature leaves, at least on adaxial midrib, stipules usually prominent and foliaceous, 0.6–8 mm, and styles often longer, 0.4–1.6 mm.
The nomenclature of these species is confusing. When treating them as varieties E. Hultén (1968) used the name Salix myrtillifolia var. pseudomyrsinites and R. D. Dorn (1975) used the name S. myrtillifolia var. cordata. At the species level, the name S. novae-angliae was used (L. A. Viereck and E. L. Little Jr. 1972; G. W. Argus 1973), but that name is illegitimate (Dorn) and is replaced by S. pseudomyrsinites (Argus 1997).
Hybrids:
Salix pseudomyrsinites forms natural hybrids with S. barrattiana.
Salix pseudomyrsinites × S. barrattiana is a rare hybrid that combines the characters of the two parents.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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