Salix lasiolepis ( arroyo willow) is a species of willow native to western North America.[ USDA: Salix lasiolepis]
Distribution
The core range of the arroyo willow includes most of California, including the California Coast Ranges,
Arizona, Klamath Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Transverse Ranges.
[ Calflora: Salix lasiolepis] It extends north into Washington, south into
Baja California, and east into
Idaho,
Utah,
Texas, and
Coahuila (México).
[
]
Habitat
The plant is commonly found growing in in canyons and valleys, along pond shores, and in and .[ Salix lasiolepis Shrubland Alliance California Native Plant Society. Retrieved 24 April 2019.] It is found in many plant communities, including: chaparral, oak woodland, mixed evergreen forest, coast redwood forest, yellow pine forest, red fir forest, lodgepole pine forest, and .[
]
Allergenicity
Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis) is a severe allergen.[ Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis) Retrieved 24 April 2019.]
Pollination
Occurs in following seasons depending on latitude and elevation: Spring.
It is primarily pollinated through insects.
Description
Salix lasiolepis is a deciduous large shrub or small multi−trunked tree growing to tall. The shoots are yellowish brown and densely hairy when young. The leaf are long and broadly lanceolate in shape. They are green above and glaucous green below. The undersides are covered with whitish or rusty hairs which gradually wear off during the summer.
The morphology of its leaves is varied; at maturity its leaf margins can be revolute, entire, or serrate. Its apices can be acute to obtuse. The stipules of S. lasiolepis can appear absent or leaf-like, and its petioles are hairy.
The are unisexual. Male (staminate) flowers feature yellow long, and female (pistillate) flowers have green catkins long. Both are produced in early spring. The bloom period is February to May.
Varieties
Ecology
S. lasiolepis serves as a host plant for various insects, including Lorquin’s admiral, mourning cloak, and Papilio rutulus butterflies.
Its seeds are tiny, measuring approximately and are distributed by wind.
Uses
The indigenous peoples of California used the species in various ways. As a traditional medicinal plant, infusions of the leaves, bark, or flowers were used for several disease remedies. The bark has been used to make tea to help with pains and fevers.
The inner bark was used to make rope. Shoots were used in coiled and twined basketry, and branches were used to make acorn storage baskets.[ University of Michigan at Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany of Salix lasiolepis] The leaves were used to thatch ramadas.
External links
