BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Salix brachycarpa | Barren-Ground Willow 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Barren-ground willow is a much-branched, low-growing, and often
prostrate shrub typically between 1 and 3 feet (0.3-0.9 m) tall.  Male
and female flowers occur on separate plants in 0.7- to 2-inch-long
(1.5-5 cm) catkins that persist throughout the summer and often through
the following winter.  The fruit is a two-valved capsule [3,6,19,28].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Like all willows, barren-ground willow's primary mode of reproduction is
sexual.  It produces an abundance of lightweight seed and begins seed
production at an early age (between 2 and 10 years) [12].

Willow seed has an extremely short period of viability.  Under natural
conditions, most seeds remain viable for only a few days.  Seeds usually
germinate within 12 to 24 hours of landing on a suitable seedbed.  At
maturity, the capsular fruits split open to release the minute downy
seeds that are dispersed by either wind or water [12,19].

Vegetative reproduction:  Willows are prolific sprouters.  Barren-ground
willow sprouts from the root crown if aboveground stems are broken or
destroyed by cutting or fire [12].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Barren-ground willow occurs on a wide variety of sites including open
woodlands, bogs, muskegs, meadows, streambanks, alpine slopes, swamp
margins, and moraines.  It also occurs on serpentine barrens, salt
marshes, alkaline meadows, and salt flats [11,28].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Obligate Initial Community Species

Barren-ground willow is an early seral species.  It is one of the first
species to become established on exposed silt and gravel bars and the
inside of river meanders [1,18].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Barren-ground willow flowers in June and July, and the seed is dispersed
in July and August [28].

Related categories for Species: Salix brachycarpa | Barren-Ground Willow