Click on the images below to see larger versions.
Scientific Name | Salix brachycarpa | USDA PLANTS Symbol | SABR |
Common Name | Barrenground Willow, Short-fruit Willow | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 22510 |
Family | Saliceae (Willow) | SEINet Reference |
Click Here |
Description |
Life zones and habitat: Montane to alpine (7000 to 13500 ft.); wet areas in meadows and along streams and ponds. Plant: Bush up to 6 feet tall; erect or sprawling, stout branches; overall grayish-green appearance; new-growth stems are reddish. Leaves: Pale grayish-green with small hairs on top, whitish and wooly underneath, oblong, elliptic, obovate or narrowly oblanceolate; 0.8 to 1.2 inches long and 0.2 to 0.6 inches wide. Inflorescence: Female catkins less than 3/4-inch long and rounded; male catkins less than 1/2-inch long with yellow/reddish anthers. Bloom Period: May and June. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel and "A Guide to Rocky Mountain Plants" by Nelson and Williams. Note: Often found growing together with S. planifolia (see photo below). |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Salix glauca | USDA PLANTS Symbol | SAGL |
Common Name | Grayleaf Willow | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 22482 |
Family | Saliceae (Willow) | SEINet Reference |
Click Here |
Description |
Life zones and habitat: Montane and alpine (7500 to 13500 ft.); well-drained soils in open areas. Plant: Erect shrub generally 3 to 4 feet tall; taller in favorable sites, but much shorter on exposed tundra sites; overall grayish-green appearance; branches brownish to red-brown; new twigs reddish. Leaves: Elliptic, oblanceolate or obovate-shaped, 1 to 1-3/4-inches long, hairy surfaces, bluish-white, waxy coating beneath, entire edges; yellowish petioles 3/8-inch long or less. Inflorescence: Female catkins 3/4-inch to 2 inches long; male catkins 1/2 to 1-1/4 inches long; bracts below are brownish to green. Bloom Period: May to July. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, US Forest Service and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |
Scientific Name | Salix planifolia | USDA PLANTS Symbol | SAPL2 |
Common Name | Plane-leaf Willow Willow | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 22569 |
Family | Saliceae (Willow) | SEINet Reference |
Click Here |
Description |
Life zones and habitat: Montane to alpine (8000 to 13500 ft.); wet meadows, along streams, ponds and boggy areas. Plant: Bush up to 9 feet tall below timberline; 2 to 3 feet tall in alpine environments; erect or sprawling, stout branches; overall green appearance; new-growth stems are dark, glossy and reddish brown. Leaves: Smooth green leaves with prominent veins, narrowly- oblong, elliptic or oblanceolate, 0.8 to 1.9 inches long and 0.2 to 0.6 inches wide, with pointed tips. Inflorescence: Female catkins up to 2 inches long; male catkins less than 1 inch long with reddish/purple anthers. Bloom Period: May to July. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel, "A Guide to Rocky Mountain Plants" by Nelson and Williams, and SEINet. Note: Often found growing together with S. brachycarpa (see photo below). |
BONAP Distribution Map![]() |
Colorado Status: Native |