Balsam willow

Leaves

Form

• Oval, thick
• Tip tapered to a point, base rounded
• A network of prominent veins on lower surface
• Stipules small or missing
• Young leaves thin, translucent
• Odour of balsam from bruised leaves

Length

• 3–8 mm

Colour

• Upper surface dark green
• Lower surface paler
• Young leaves often tinged with red

Margin

• Teeth short, gland-tipped

Petiole

• Glands near the leaf blade

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

• Odour of balsam from bruised twigs
• Shiny

Colour

• Yellowish or greenish in spring becoming reddish-brown
• Larger stems grey or brown to purplish-red

Flowers

Form

• Catkins on short, usually leafy shoots

Structure

• Dioecious

Floral timing

• With the leaves

Fruits

Form

• Capsules smooth

Size

Height

• To 8 m

Habitat

Site

• Spruce bogs and alder swamps

Range

Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia, south into Michigan and Vermont