Identification
Growth form: A decidious shrub growing to 8m at a fast rate. (1)
Roots: The roots of the willow trap sediments and nutrients from surface runoff and prevents them from entering the aquatic system. The roots also function as a filter for ground water, cleaning the water and improving water quality. Increasing the number of plants in a riparian community can also function as a sponge, minimizing flood damage by releasing water slowly over a longer period of time. (1)
Stem: The branches tend to be gray to yellow-brown in color. (1)
Leaves: Lance-shaped, 4-12 cm long, finely glandular-serrate, yellowish green to green, the underside of the leaves tend to be pale and glabrous when mature (not glaucous) (2).
Inflorescence/flowers: Dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required) and are pollinated by bees (2).
Fruits: Ovoid capsules 4 -6 mm long, with a long neck (1).
Similar Species: Salix lasiolepis is another species of willow found in similar habitats. S. lasiolepis is a large tree and the leaves lack the bitter taste found in S. lucida.

Ecology
Life history: A long-lived perennial
Native/Introduced: Native
Photosynthetic pathway: C3
Phenology: Flowers in May and fruits in June (1).
Distribution: Eastern and Central N. America - Newfoundland to the eastern base of the Rockies (2) Thrives in riparian communities, most commonly along riverbanks, around lakes and ponds, also found in swamps and wet meadows. They tend to grow at low to mid elevations (5000-9000ft) and are associated with zones of big sagebrush, Douglas fir, and ponderosa pines (3).

Uses
Human: Native Americans used the shining willow to make dye, furniture, mats, baskets, drums, stirrups, tipi pegs and pins, fox and fish traps, hunting lodge poles, and meat-drying racks. The shining willow bark was also used for medicinal purposes and could be made into a tea to treat internal hemorrhage, throat inflammation, and irritated eyes. Branches of the shining willow were used by Native Americans to clean their teeth, and tea from its leaves could be used to cure pneumonia, relieve body aches, and rashes. The bark also contains salicin, which can be used in the same manner as modern aspirin. Willows can also be used as a nutrition source. After stripping the bark off of young willows, the shoots can be eaten. The inner bark can also be eaten, either raw, or prepared like spaghetti. The bark can also be ground up and used as flour. The young leaves of willows can also be eaten in cases of emergency (2).
Wildlife: The shining willow provides food and cover for many wildlife species, and is the preferred food source for many animals (moose, elk, deer, etc.). Willows are also palatable to cattle and sheep, which tend to prefer riparian habitats due to the abundance of water. As a result, willows play a large role in the diet of many animal species (2).

References
1. Hitchcock, C. L., Cronquist, A. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1990.

2. Walters, D. R., and Keil, D. J. Vascular Plant Taxonomy. Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1996.

3. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Plants Database [On-line]. Available: http://plants.usda.gov/index.html