BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Salix fuscescens | Alaska Bog Willow 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Alaska bog willow is a native, low-growing, much-branched, trailing
deciduous shrub 4 to 12 inches (10-30 cm) tall [18].  Male and female
flowers occur on separate plants in 0.75 to 1.5 inch (1.9-3.8 cm) long
catkins.  The fruit is a two-valved capsule [2,13,18].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Like all willows, Alaska bog willow's primary mode of reproduction is
sexual.  It produces an abundance of small, lightweight seed.  It
probably begins seed production at an early age (between 2 to 10 years).
At maturity the capsular fruits split open to release the minute downy
seeds that are dispersed by either wind or water [6,13].

Vegetative reproduction:  Willows are prolific sprouters.  Alaska bog
willow sprouts from from the root crown if aboveground stems are broken
or destroyed by cutting or fire [6].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Alaska bog willow commonly occurs in wet tundra, small bogs, swamps,
riverbanks, and in open black spruce (Picea mariana) muskegs throughout
most of the Alaskan boreal forest [2,18].  Frequent associates include
alder (Alder spp.), bog birch (Betula glandulosa), balsam popular
(Populus balsamifera), and numerous willows (Salix spp.) [3,7,13].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Obligate Initial Community Species

Alaska bog willow is an early seral species.  Like other willows it
probably becomes abundant after disturbances that open the canopy and
expose the mineral soil.  It occurs in the early seral stages following
fire in black spruce stands [18].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Alaska bog willow flowers in June; the fruits ripen in July [18].

Related categories for Species: Salix fuscescens | Alaska Bog Willow