Littletree willow

Leaves

Form

• Elliptic, narrow, pointed at both ends
• Lower surface covered with silky hairs
• Veins straight, parallel, closely spaced
• Stipules small, deciduous

Length

• 6–7 cm

Colour

• Upper surface shiny dark green
• Hairs white

Margin

• Teeth small, gland-tipped

Buds

Form

• Pointed, pressed against the twig, closely spaced
• Covered with a single scale
• No true terminal bud; end bud originates as a lateral bud
• Flower buds larger than leaf buds
• Leaf scars V-shaped, with 3 vein scars
• Stipule scars on either side

Twigs

Form

• Shiny

Colour

• Grey to reddish-brown

Flowers

Form

• Catkins on very short shoots

Structure

• Dioecious

Fruits

Form

• Fruit capsules covered with hairs

Colour

• Hairs white

Bark

Form

• “Diamonds” similar to Bebb and feltleaf willow

Size

Height

• To 9 m

Habitat

Site

• Along river banks and on recently burned-over areas

Range

Northwestern Ontario to northern British Columbia, with a disjunct
occurrence at Lake Mistassini, Quebec