Salix stenophylla Rydb.

Authority

New York Botanical Garden. Herbarium of Dr. Per Axel Rydberg. Purchased, 1899. Contributions from the New York Botanical Garden.

Family

Salicaceae

Scientific Name

Salix stenophylla Rydb.

Description

Species Description - A shrub 2—5 m. high. Bark of older stems light brownish green, smooth; that of the slender strict branches brown: young shoots silvery pubescent: leaves narrowly linear, 3-7 cm. long, about 3 mm. wide, acute, entire or minutely and distantly denticulate, permanently finely silky strigose, but not white: pistillate aments 3-4 cm. long at the ends of short leafy branches: bracts yellow, oblanceolate, deciduous, acute, 2-2.5 mm long rather sparingly silky-villous: pistil green, about 4 mm. long, glabrousexcept the swollen portion at the end just below the red stigma: stipe about 1 mm. long: style none: stigma minutely 4-lobed: fruit glabrous, narrowly ovoid-conic, about 6 mm. long, and 1.5 mm. in diameter: staminate aments 2-3 cm. long, 5 mm. in diameter: bracts like those of the pistillate aments, but more obtuse and more villous: stamens 2, about twice as long as the bracts: filaments slightly hairy, especially below.

Discussion

This species is a member of the longifolia group and nearest related to .S. exigua Nutt., at least as understood by Professor Rowlee ; but differs in the narrower leaves, the distinct stipe and the peculiar swelling just below the stigma. It grows on river banks up to an altitude of 2500 m.

Colorado: Cuchara River, below La Veta, 1900, Rydberg & Vreeland, 6392 (staminate flowers) and 6393 (pistillate, type) ; Mancos, 1898, Baker, Earle & Tracy, 127 (staminate) and 102 (pistillate in fruit).

Distribution

New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado.

New Mexico United States of America North America| Arizona United States of America North America| Colorado United States of America North America|