# Salix glauca

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Salix_glauca
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Salix_glauca.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salix_glauca
> Source revision: 1316996647
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Species of flowering plant

Salix glauca Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Secure (NatureServe) Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Rosids Order: Malpighiales Family: Salicaceae Genus: Salix Species: S. glauca Binomial name Salix glauca L. Synonyms Salix pseudolapponum

Dominating the Greenland tundra

***Salix glauca*** is a species of flowering plant in the [willow family](/source/Salicaceae) known by the common names **gray willow**, **grayleaf willow**, **white willow**, and **glaucous willow**. It is native to North America, where it occurs throughout much of [Alaska](/source/Alaska), northern and western Canada, and the contiguous United States south through the [Rocky Mountains](/source/Rocky_Mountains) to northern [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico).[2] It can also be found in [Greenland](/source/Greenland), northwestern Europe, and Siberia.[3]

## Description

This [willow](/source/Willow) is usually a [shrub](/source/Shrub) growing up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) tall, but in appropriate habitat it becomes a tree up to 6 m (20 ft) tall. The smooth gray bark becomes furrowed with age. The species is [dioecious](/source/Plant_sexuality), with male and female reproductive parts occurring on separate individuals.[2] This species has secondary [sexual dimorphism](/source/Sexual_dimorphism), with male and female individuals different in function or morphology in aspects other than their reproductive structures. For example, female plants are more sensitive to [drought](/source/Drought) conditions.[4] The seed stays on the plant until fall, when it is [dispersed](/source/Seed_dispersal). The seed is coated in downy fibers that help it disperse on the wind and on water. Unlike the seeds of many other willows, these do not [germinate](/source/Germination) immediately on contact with the substrate, but overwinter under the snow and sprout in the spring. This provides cold [stratification](/source/Stratification_(botany)) to the seeds, and allows them a few weeks more to develop than in summer-dispersing willows.[2]

## Distribution and habitat

In the northern part of its range, this plant codominates with other species of willow on [floodplains](/source/Floodplain) and in shrubby riparian and [tundra](/source/Tundra) habitat. It may also grow scattered throughout coniferous forests and woodlands, dominated often by [spruces](/source/Spruce). In the southern part of its range, it grows in [alpine](/source/Alpine_climate) and [subalpine climates](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Subalpine_climates&action=edit&redlink=1). Like many other willows, it colonizes freshly cleared habitat, such as floodplains recently scoured by water and forests recently burned.[2]

## Taxonomy

The taxonomy of *S. glauca* has been described as "confusing".[5] With considerable geographic variation across its wide circumboreal-polar range, *S. glauca* may be considered "a very widespread and polymorphic species or species group", with currently no consensus whether it should be subdivided into races, subspecies or varieties. Formally and informally, there are a number of recognized subspecies (such as *glauca*, *stipulifera*, *acutifolia*, *callicarpaea*)[3] and varieties (such as *acutifolia*, *glauca*, *stipulata*, *villosa*),[6] but there are only small morphological differences to tell them apart.[3] Furthermore, *S. glauca* is known to form hybrids with other willows, resulting in intermediates that are visually difficult to distinguish from one another.[5] Some varieties and subspecies have very specific or limited distribution, though. The hybrid *S. arctophila × S. glauca* subsp. *callicarpaea*, for instance, is not found in Canada, and is common in eastern parts of [Greenland](/source/Greenland), but absent from the west, whereas *S. glauca* subsp. *glauca* is not found on Greenland at all.[5]

## Ecology

As with other willows, *S. glauca* is an important food source for a variety of animals, particularly wintering [ungulates](/source/Ungulate), providing them with a rich source of calcium and phosphorus. It is considered moderately important as moose [browse](/source/Browsing_(herbivory)), and during the winter it constitutes much of the diet for [snowshoe hares](/source/Snowshoe_hare).[2]

## Use

[Native Americans](/source/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States) used parts of willows, including this species, for medicinal purposes, in basket weaving, to make bows and arrows, and for building animal traps.[2]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-iucn_1-0)** Stritch, L. (2018). ["*Salix glauca*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/79927480/126589484). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2018** e.T79927480A126589484. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T79927480A126589484.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T79927480A126589484.en). Retrieved 11 April 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-feis_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-feis_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-feis_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-feis_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-feis_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-feis_2-5) Uchytil, Ronald J. 1992. [*Salix glauca*.](http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/salgla/all.html) In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-PAF_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-PAF_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-PAF_3-2) ["580213 *Salix glauca L.*"](http://nhm2.uio.no/paf/580213). *Annotated Checklist of the Panarctic Flora Vascular plants*. The Panarctic Flora (PAF) Project. Retrieved 28 February 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pmid21642123_4-0)** Dudley, L.S. (2006), "Ecological correlates of secondary sexual dimorphism in Salix glauca (Salicaceae).", *[American Journal of Botany](/source/American_Journal_of_Botany)*, **93** (12): 1775–83, [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3732/ajb.93.12.1775](https://doi.org/10.3732%2Fajb.93.12.1775), [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [21642123](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21642123)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CAA_Flora_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CAA_Flora_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CAA_Flora_5-2) S.G. Aiken; M.J. Dallwitz; L.L. Consaul; C.L. McJannet; R.L. Boles; G.W. Argus; J.M. Gillett; P.J. Scott; R. Elven; M.C. LeBlanc; L.J. Gillespie; A.K. Brysting; H. Solstad & J.G. Harris (2007). ["Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago – *Salix glauca L. subsp. callicarpaea* (Trautv.) Böcher"](http://nature.ca/aaflora/data/www/wlsagc.htm). NRC Research Press, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa. Retrieved 2012-02-28.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ITIS22482_6-0)** ["*Salix glauca* L., Taxonomic Serial No.: 22482"](https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=22482). *ITIS Report*. [Integrated Taxonomic Information System](/source/Integrated_Taxonomic_Information_System). Retrieved 28 February 2012.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [*Salix glauca*](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Salix_glauca).

[Wikispecies](/source/Wikispecies) has information related to ***[Salix glauca](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Search/Salix_glauca)***.

- [The Nature Conservancy](http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Salix+glauca)

- [Flora of North America](http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200005841)

Taxon identifiers Salix glauca Wikidata: Q158458 Wikispecies: Salix glauca BOLD: 126359 CoL: 79C5K EoL: 592493 EPPO: SAXGL FEIS: salgla FNA: 200005841 FoC: 200005841 GBIF: 5372963 GRIN: 32714 iNaturalist: 168335 IPNI: 777671-1 IRMNG: 10765315 ITIS: 22482 IUCN: 79927480 NatureServe: 2.135082 NCBI: 395314 Observation.org: 126519 Open Tree of Life: 775566 Plant List: kew-5000657 PLANTS: SAGL POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:301000-2 RHS: 55521 Tropicos: 28300037 VASCAN: 9110 WFO: wfo-0000928442

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Salix glauca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salix_glauca) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salix_glauca?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.