Salix lasiolepis

Salix lasiolepis (Benth)

By Justin Ladd, Native plants 2003
Common Name: Arroyo willow
Family: Salicaceae
Synonymy: Salix tracyi (C.R. Ball), Salix lutea (Nutt), 3 different varieties of Salix lasiolepis: bracelinae (C.R. Ball), falax (Bebb), sandbergii (C.R. Ball)
Etymology: Salix means the willow tree, lasiolepis means wooly scaled which refers to the hairs on the scales of the flowers (2).

Identification
Growth form: Arroyo willow can be in the form of a shrub or a tree, reaching heights up to 36 feet. (5)
Roots: Minimum of 26 inches (7)
Stem: Woody stems that are yellowish and or greenish in color (5).
Leaves: Leaves are 4-10 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, alternate, leaves tend to be shiny dark green on the top and grayish on the underside of the leaf (5).
Inflorescence/flowers: catkins 1-2 inches long; black or brown scales with dense, long, white hairs; almost stalkless (1).
Fruit: Fruit is a two valved capsule about ¼ of an inch long (1)
Similar species: None

Ecology
Life history: Arroyo willow is perennial in tree or shrub and has a moderate life span (7).
Native/Introduced: Native
Photosynthetic pathway:
Phenology: Most growth activity takes place during the spring and summer (7).
Distribution: Arroyo willows are found at elevations of 6,000 found in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas(7).

Uses
Arroyo can be used to quickly colonize newly formed sandbars, help reduce erosion by retaining soil in their fibrous matted roots. Their branches can be used in basket making. The bark contains salicylic acid which was used to help alleviate pain by chewing the bark or making a tea. Salicylic acid is the compound from which aspirin is derived. Fiber from the bark was also used by Indians to make nets and clothes. (4, 6)

References
1. Barnyard, E.S., Yates, S.F. 1998. North American Wildlife, Wildflowers. The Readers Digest Association, Inc.

2. Elmore, F.H. 1976. Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Uplands. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association. Tucson, AZ

3. Roach, A.W. 1982. Outdoor Plants of the Southwest. Taylor Publishing Company.

4. Blackwell, W.H. 1990. Poisonous and Medicinal Plants. Prentice Hall Englewood Cliffs.

5. Critteden, M. 1977. Trees of the West. Celestial Arts

6. Bowers, J.E. 1993. Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Deserts Southwest Parks and Monuments Association Tucson, AZ

7. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Plants Profile http://www.plants.usda.gov

8. Ruyle, G., Young, D. 1997. Arizona Range Grasses. Cooperative Extension College of agriculture the University of A.Z. Tucson, AZ.

9. Barkworth, M., Capels, K. 2003. Flora of N. America 2-5. New York Oxford. Oxford university press.

10. Epple, A. 1995. Field Guide to the Plants of AZ. Lew Ann publishing company mesa AZ.

11. Wiggins, I. 1964. Vegetation and Flora of the Sonoran Desert Volume 1. Stanford University press.

12. Millspaugh. 1974. American Medicinal Plants. Dover Publications, New York, N.Y.

13. Hill, D.G. 2002. Names of Plants 3rd Edition. Cambridge University Press.

Salix lasiolepis (Benth) By Justin Ladd, Native plants 2003 Common Name: Arroyo willow Family: Salicaceae Synonymy: Salix tracyi (C.R. Ball), Salix lutea (Nutt), 3 different varieties of Salix lasiolepis: bracelinae (C.R. Ball), falax (Bebb), sandbergii (C.R. Ball) Etymology: Salix means the willow tree, lasiolepis means wooly scaled which refers to the hairs on the scales of the flowers (2). Identification Growth form: Arroyo willow can be in the form of a shrub or a tree, reaching heights up to 36 feet. (5) Roots: Minimum of 26 inches (7) Stem: Woody stems that are yellowish and or greenish in color (5). Leaves: Leaves are 4-10 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, alternate, leaves tend to be shiny dark green on the top and grayish on the underside of the leaf (5). Inflorescence/flowers: catkins 1-2 inches long; black or brown scales with dense, long, white hairs; almost stalkless (1). Fruit: Fruit is a two valved capsule about ¼ of an inch long (1) Similar species: None Ecology Life history: Arroyo willow is perennial in tree or shrub and has a moderate life span (7). Native/Introduced: Native Photosynthetic pathway: Phenology: Most growth activity takes place during the spring and summer (7). Distribution: Arroyo willows are found at elevations of 6,000 found in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas(7). Uses Arroyo can be used to quickly colonize newly formed sandbars, help reduce erosion by retaining soil in their fibrous matted roots. Their branches can be used in basket making. The bark contains salicylic acid which was used to help alleviate pain by chewing the bark or making a tea. Salicylic acid is the compound from which aspirin is derived. Fiber from the bark was also used by Indians to make nets and clothes. (4, 6) References 1. Barnyard, E.S., Yates, S.F. 1998. North American Wildlife, Wildflowers. The Readers Digest Association, Inc. 2. Elmore, F.H. 1976. Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Uplands. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association. Tucson, AZ 3. Roach, A.W. 1982. Outdoor Plants of the Southwest. Taylor Publishing Company. 4. Blackwell, W.H. 1990. Poisonous and Medicinal Plants. Prentice Hall Englewood Cliffs. 5. Critteden, M. 1977. Trees of the West. Celestial Arts 6. Bowers, J.E. 1993. Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Deserts Southwest Parks and Monuments Association Tucson, AZ 7. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Plants Profile http://www.plants.usda.gov 8. Ruyle, G., Young, D. 1997. Arizona Range Grasses. Cooperative Extension College of agriculture the University of A.Z. Tucson, AZ. 9. Barkworth, M., Capels, K. 2003. Flora of N. America 2-5. New York Oxford. Oxford university press. 10. Epple, A. 1995. Field Guide to the Plants of AZ. Lew Ann publishing company mesa AZ. 11. Wiggins, I. 1964. Vegetation and Flora of the Sonoran Desert Volume 1. Stanford University press. 12. Millspaugh. 1974. American Medicinal Plants. Dover Publications, New York, N.Y. 13. Hill, D.G. 2002. Names of Plants 3rd Edition. Cambridge University Press.