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Show MARCH SPECIES OF THE MONTH stream tips of islands. Willow success has helped them survive since the Cretaceous Period 140 million years ago. Willows are well suited to life at the edge of water. In addition to tolerance of constant water on their THE MAGIC OF WILLOWS: 140 MILLION YEARS OLD By Pamela Mills Poulson Manager of Environmental Education, Red Butte Garden and Arboretum he hemisphere’s Tes days halfway on Cross Complying tilt with Day, an 6 more equinox — fever will Earth to (Natural hogs using (which vernal surprise. be Cabin relieved lengthening by of days plant a and casual in the family shrubs SALICACEAE, the same family as poplars, cottonwoods and aspens. It is relatively simple to distinguish a willow from its relatives. who are Unlike wind the siblings pollinated, willows are insect pollinated, due to the presence of nectar glands Willows are of the genus Salix, from Celtic: sal, “near” and _ lis, “water.” Willows able can and be are present. There are 300 lows and worldwide, North 3) species ranging sun are of wilin size are native with 2) shrubs prostrate various. species frustrated havoc observer. All willows lance-shaped, with as promisspecies. identification can on the Concentrate larger subdivision leaves, as well reproductive on 12 to native cultivar in of the moun- creepers above timberline; and 4) cultivated trees. In no other botanical case is it so difficult to identify a given species. The willow’s common shrub-like habit of growth — branching and suckering from the base — makes it difficult to separate shrubs from trees. Add the taxOnomic requirement to identify them like that the leaves appear. pendulous thickets. roots just to serve as living riprap Stem under in the allows more willows to grow. Salicylic acid, the pain reliever in aspirin, was first discovered in the bark of willow trees. Although now mostly synthesized, the substance salacin, was named for the genus Salix. Since the Stone man has utilized willow pain reliever, spring Age, bark as a tonic, astrin- gent, detergent, fever reducer, and even an aphrodisiac. Willow has Willows Male woolly cuttings the alpine vegetation zones, as long as non-saline water and open sun are present. Associates: Cottonwoods, cattails, sedges, Cultural Notes: Not recommended for use in the home landscape. Grow large and quickly. Sucker heavily. Roots invade drain pipes and water systems. Large branches extremely brittle. gray root new soil and nesting waterside insects, birds, human campers, mountain lion. to the ground. down- PAGE In the offer small and desert, habitat for mammals, an occasional In middle elevation valleys water and willows attract numerous species of birds. Mallards nest among and under willows. Dragonfly nymphs climb out of ponds and out of their skins, darting off into a new life of acrobatic flight, leaving the dried husk of a flightless insect on a willow whip. In mountain environments water and willows are home to beaver, mule deer and moose. All sand banks, sites. willows buds, muddy cut- Willow: Various species of the genus Salix Height: Creepers from 6 to 18 inches. Shrubs from 18 inches to 10 feet. Trees from 10 to 75 feet. Spread: Creepers to 20 feet. Shrubs from 3 feet to unbounded clonal thickets. Trees from 10 to 40 feet. Range and Distribution: Present throughout temperate regions of the world, but absent from Australia. Preferred Site: Highly adaptable. All elevations, from desert valleys to surface. These reproductive adaptations make willows the chief pioneer plant of soggy frontiers — bars, from are easily because of their adaptation to flooding: when several feet of silt are deposited, willows develop new rooting have long, narrow finely toothed undersides worms. Once fertilized, capsules form that are packed with hundreds of tiny brown seeds imbedded in white cotton. Seeds disperse by riding on the wind, floating on the water, dropping with the deciduous female catkin or being carried off by birds as food or nest lining. Seeds are viable only a short time. Bare, moist, soil and full sun are essential for germination. Once seedlings are established the plant grows rapidly. Willows also clone by suckering rootstocks to develop dense ready prevention of bank _ erosion. Interlacing roots form mats that bind soil more efficiently than any cage full of boulders or junk cars. WW: together with willows form habitat, providing food, water, shelter, and breeding lighter green. Leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. All willows produce pussy willows, usually before and No other animal utilizes willows more fully than the beaver. Willows are the beaver’s favorite food (at higher elevations, he switches to aspens.) The beaver has an advantage: he can cut down willows to get at the leaves — a novel approach to browsing. Fallen logs are dragged off to add to the dam. The beaver actually improves his environment by cutting trees which opens seed beds to the sun and genus. look wildlands of the Wasatch. We see four kinds of willows along the Wasatch: 1) large shrubs or trees ranging from the foothills into the mountains; time), the desert species and one escaped tains; same on adapt- open 100 species America, the flowers from from less than six inches to over 75 feet. Over wreak and necessarily highly valleys to alpine tundra, as long as water not and female flowers are on separate plants. Male catkins bloom first and are easily identified by the presence of pollen. Female catkins found non-saline leaves are among lows. are deciduous both at the Willow or trees Size.) unbounded cuity the appearance of greening stems and fuzzy blooming catkins of wilWillows catkin of Salix discolor. 2 schedule weeks no now noticeable Staminate passed February four billion years old, ground predicted roots tings, their bark is covered with tiny openings called lenticels which allow gas exchange directly through the bark. Young plants are flexible and pliable in the face of currents and wave action. The favored habitat of willows allows toward of spring 1995 creatures rabbits, 4 browse twigs and who on the _ bark, leaves, especially nibble willow shoots also been used for centuries in weaving, especially for baskets, and wicker furniture. And what summer day has gone by without the use of a willow whip as a fishing pole and a twig for a whistle? As the alternate Cross Day passes us the first week of August and the days get noticeably shorter, the slender leaves of willow turn yellow gold. Winter settles in with heavy snows that arch supple willows into a maze of undersnow tunnels, where small mammals are active throughout the long cold months. If winter comes, can spring be far behind? Watch the willows, for by the greening of stems and blooming of fuzzy catkins, you will surely know. @ |
