Sandbar Willow

This plant is listed by the U.S. federal government or a state. Common names are from state and federal lists. In Maine sandbar willow is listed as Endangered. (USDA PLANTS, 2009)

Flowers in June, appearing after the leaves. (Peattie, 1930)

Horizontal stems from the base of the clump are often rooting. (Peattie, 1930)

USA: AK , AR , CO , CT , DE , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , MT , NE , NJ , NY , ND , OH , OK , PA , SD , TN , VT , VA , WV , WI , WY , DC (NPIN, 2007)

Canada: MB , NB , ON , QC (NPIN, 2007)

USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N) (NPIN, 2007)

Willows rely on wind to spread pollen from the male to the female flowers. When the shrubs are in full flower, it is easy to spot the difference between the male and female plants. After the pollen has been shed, the male pollen structures wither and fall off, and the female ovaries plump up with ripening seeds. The dense hairs on the leaves protect the plant from dessication due to the wind and the challenges of extreme temperatures. All willows have one scale per bud and are dioecious (sexes on separate plants). (Weatherbee, 2006)

Found in a variety of wet habitats. (Weatherbee, 2006) Found both in dunes and in low wet places. (Peattie, 1930)

It is a perennial. (NPIN, 2007)

Salix cordata (Sand Dune Willow) and Salix myricoides (blueleaf willow) are likely to be encountered on beaches as well. (Weatherbee, 2006)

Overall This is a shrub. (Peattie, 1930)

Flowers There are 1-3 catkins often located together. Catkins are long and slender and loosely flowered. The scales are yellow, deciduous, and thinly pubescent. On male plants there are two stamens. On female plants stigmas are short and nearly sessile. (Peattie, 1930) Flowers may be yellow, green, or brown. (NPIN, 2007)

Fruit capsules are narrowly conic. (Peattie, 1930) Capsules are brown. (NPIN, 2007)

Leaves are smooth, narrow, and slightly toothed. There is a shallowly scalloped space between the short teeth. (Weatherbee, 2006) There are no stipules. Young leaves are thinly villous (pubescent with long and soft hairs that are not interwoven). Mature leaves are linear to elliptical and glabrous (hairless) beneath. Mature leaves have an acute base, a tip that is barely acute, and margins that are remotely denticulate (toothed). (Peattie, 1930) No other willow has such extremely long leaves in proportion to their breadth - 16 to 18 times as long as broad. There is consequently little shade under a sandbar willow. (NPIN, 2007)

Stems are numerous. Twigs are smooth and reddish brown. (Peattie, 1930)

Plant is 1.5-5.5 m tall. (Peattie, 1930)

Leaves 5-12 cm (2-4 3/4") long x 5-15 mm (1/8-5/8") wide. (Weatherbee, 2006)

Infusion of stems and other plant parts used for side pains. (Rousseau, 1945) Willow and some other species of willow used for a scarlet dye. (Smith, 1933) Cut, peeled willows dipped in hot water to make them tough and pliable and made into baskets. (Gilmore, 1933) Wood used to make baskets, fish weirs and water jugs. (Chamberlin, 1911) Stems used to make bows and arrows. (Leighton, 1985)