Salix lasiolepis explained

Salix lasiolepis (arroyo willow) is a species of willow native to western North America.^[1]

Distribution

The core range of the arroyo willow includes most of California, including the California Coast Ranges, Arizona, Klamath Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Transverse Ranges.^[2] It extends north into Washington, south into Baja California, and east into Idaho, Utah, Texas, and Coahuila (México).^{[1] [3]}

Habitat

The plant is commonly found growing in riparian zones in canyons and valleys, along pond shores, and in marshes and wetlands.^[4] It is found in many plant communities, including: chaparral, oak woodland, mixed evergreen forest, coast redwood forest, yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, and grasslands.^[2]

Allergenicity

Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis) is a severe allergen.^[5]

Pollination

Occurs in following seasons depending on latitude and elevation: Spring.

Description

Salix lasiolepis is a deciduous large shrub or small multi−trunked tree growing to tall. The shoots are yellowish brown and densely hairy when young. The leaves are 3.5– long and broadly lanceolate in shape. They are green above and glaucous green below. The undersides are covered with whitish or rusty hairs which gradually wear off during the summer.

The flowers are arranged in yellow catkins 1.5– long which are produced in early spring. The bloom period is February to May.^[2]

Varieties

• Salix lasiolepis var. bigelovii — Bigelow's willow, endemic to California and Oregon.^[6] Currently reclassified as species Salix lasiolepis.^{[7] [8] [9]}
• Salix lasiolepis var. lasiolepis — Tracy Willow, endemic to narrow Pacific coastal zone in NW California and SW Oregon.^{[10] [11] [3]} Currently reclassified as species Salix lasiolepis.^{[7] [12] [13]}

Uses

The indigenous peoples of California used the species in various ways. As a traditional medicinal plant, infusions of the leaves, bark, or flowers were used for several disease remedies. The inner bark was used to make rope. Shoots were used in coiled and twined basketry, and branches were used to make acorn storage baskets.^[14]

External links

• • • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center−NPIN database

Notes and References

1. https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=SALA6 USDA: Salix lasiolepis
2. http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Salix+lasiolepis Calflora: Salix lasiolepis
3. Book: Little Jr., Elbert L.. Atlas of United States Trees. 3 (Minor Western Hardwoods). 1976. US Government Printing Office. 79-653298. 4053799. Map 174: Salix lasiolepis. https://archive.org/details/atlasofunitedsta1314litt/page/n267/mode/2up.
4. http://vegetation.cnps.org/alliance/282 Salix lasiolepis Shrubland Alliance
5. http://www.pollenlibrary.com/Local/Specie/Salix+lasiolepis/in/Santa%20clara%20County/CA/ Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis)
6. http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SALAB USDA: Salix lasiolepis var. bigelovii
7. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=530216 ITIS Salicaceae of North America Update, database (version 2011)
8. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=530215 ITIS: Current name of Salix lasiolepis var. bigelovii
9. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_cpn.pl?SALAB Jepson eFlora: Current name of Salix lasiolepis var. bigelovii
10. http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SALAL2 NPIN: Salix lasiolepis var. lasiolepis
11. http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SALAL2 USDA: Salix lasiolepis var. lasiolepis
12. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=530216 ITIS: Current name of Salix lasiolepis var. lasiolepis
13. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_cpn.pl?SALAL2 Jepson eFlora: Current name of Salix lasiolepis var. lasiolepis
14. http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Salix+lasiolepis University of Michigan at Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany of Salix lasiolepis