Checklist » Salicaceae » Salix sitchensis
Last updated 4/24/2020 by David Giblin.
Salix sitchensis Sanson ex Bong.[FNA7, HC, HC2]
Sitka willow

Publication: Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg, Sér. 6, Sci. Math. 2: 162. 1832.

Origin: Native

selected vouchers: WTU

Notes: FNA7: "Ovary hairiness in some Salix sitchensis populations varies from uniformly hairy to glabrescent, with intermediates with patchy or streaky hairiness. All three variations can occur together and do not seem to indicate hybridization.

Both Salix sitchensis and S. scouleriana have similar variants with leaves having very densely curly hairs on abaxial surfaces [S. sitchensis forma coulteri (Andersson) Jepson and S. scouleriana forma poikila (C. K. Schneider) C. K. Schneider]. Plants resembling S. drummondiana but with similar indumentum probably are hybrids with S. alaxensis (see 84. S. drummondiana). The coulteri taxon resembles S. delnortensis in having stipules with adaxial surfaces glabrous and very sparsely glandular toward the base, densely hairy abaxially, and with gland-dotted margins; its branchlets have wavy to crinkly hairs. The possible hybrid origin of S. delnortensis needs study (R. D. Dorn 2000).

Salix sitchensis forms natural hybrids with S. alaxensis var. longistylis and S. melanopsis. Hybridization with S. geyeriana reported by J. K. Henry (1915) is not based on convincing specimens."

References: (none)

Infraspecies:

var. sitchensis [HC2]
Sitka willow
Synonyms & Misapplied Names:
Salix coulteri Andersson
Salix cuneata Nutt.
Salix sitchensis Sanson ex Bong. var. congesta Andersson
Salix sitchensis Sanson ex Bong. var. denudata (Andersson) Andersson
Salix sitchensis Sanson ex Bong. var. parviflora (Jeps.) Jeps.