Salix alaxensis - Alaska willow - Feltleaf Willow

General Information Common Name  Alaska Willow, Feltleaf Willow Scientific Name  Salix alaxensis Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  1 - 9 m (3.3-30 ft) Spread  2 - 5 m (6.8 - 18 ft) Growth Rate  Fast Bloom Time  Spring Color  Green, Flower Color  White Type  Shrub Native  USA, Europe.

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class  Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass  Dilleniidae Order  Salicales Family  Salicaceae – Willow family Genus  Salix L. – Willow Species  S. alaxensis

Salix alaxensis - Alaska Willow

Salix alaxensis commonly known as Alaska Willow also called Feltleaf Willow. It is native to northern North America, where it occurs throughout northern Canada and Alaska.

This plant is a shrub or small tree. It grows 1 - 9 m (3.3 - 30 ft) in height. The stem diameter is up to 18 cm (7.1 in). In harsher climates, it remains much smaller. The smooth, gray bark becomes furrowed and scaly with age. It is a deciduous tree. The leaves color are green. The leaves are up to 11 cm long and have woolly undersides, largest medial blade broadly oblong, narrowly oblong, narrowly elliptic to elliptic, 2-4 times as long as wide, base cuneate or convex, margins strongly revolute, entire or crenate, apex acuminate, acute, or convex, hairs wavy, sparsely or moderately densely villous to glabrescent, proximal blade margins entire; juvenile blade reddish or yellowish green (color often obscured by hairs), hairs white.

It blooms white-green flowers in late spring, male and female reproductive parts on separate individuals. The inflorescence is a catkin up to 10 cm long. The fruit is a capsule 4-5 mm long. The seed has a downy layer of fibers that helps it disperse via wind and moving water. The seed remains viable for about a week, but it germinates within 24 hours of deposition upon a moist soil substrate. It does not germinate easily on dry soils or forest litter. The plant primarily reproduces sexually, via seed, but it can also reproduce vegetatively. It can resprout easily, and if stem fragments break off, they can often take root and grow into new plants.

Native Americans used parts of willows, including this species, for medicinal purposes, basket weaving, to make bows and arrows, and for building animal traps.

Salix alaxensis - Alaska Willow

Alaska Willow Leaves

Salix alaxensis Leaves

Salix alaxensis - Alaska Willow Leaves

Alaska Willow Flowers

Salix alaxensis Flowers

Flowers of Alaska Willow

Salix alaxensis - Alaska Willow

Salix alaxensis - Alaska Willow

Salix alaxensis - Alaska Willow

Salix alaxensis - Alaska Willow