BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Salix geyeriana | Geyer Willow 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Geyer willow is larger than many associated shrub willows.  It grows as
a large deciduous shrub or small tree sometimes up to 20 feet (6 m)
tall.  It is usually found in somewhat open stands, occurring as
well-spaced individuals with numerous, straight, nearly erect stems
arising from a tight basal cluster [9].  Male and female flowers occur
on separate plants in erect catkins [6,9].  The fruit is a two-valved
capsule.


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Undisturbed State:  Phanerophyte (microphanerophyte)
   Undisturbed State:  Phanerophyte (nanophanerophyte)
   Burned or Clipped State:  Hemicryptophyte
   Burned or Clipped State:  Therophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Geyer willow's primary mode of reproduction is sexual.  It produces an
abundance of small, light-weight seeds.  Like most willows, it probably
begins seed production at an early age (between 2 and 10 years) [22].
At maturity, the fruit splits open, releasing the seed.  Each seed has a
cottony down that aids in dispersal by wind and water [8].  Seeds are
dispersed during the growing season and remain viable for only about 1
week [8].  The seeds contain significant amounts of chlorophyll, and
photosynthesis generally begins as soon as the seed is moistened.
Germination occurs within 24 hours of dispersal if a moist seedbed is
reached [8].  Exposed mineral soils are the best seedbed [22].
Germination and/or seedling establishment is generally inhibited by
litter [22].

Vegetative reproduction:  Geyer willow sprouts from the root crown or
stembase if aboveground stems are broken or destroyed by cutting,
flooding, or fire [22].  Detached stem fragments form adventitious roots
if they remain moist.  Thus portions of stems will root if buried in
moist soil.  This can occur when stem fragments are transported by
floodwaters and deposited on fresh alluvium [3,22].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Geyer willow grows in wet meadows and marshes, next to seeps and
springs, and along the borders of low gradient streams and beaver ponds.
It is often somewhat removed from a stream's edge, occurring in broad,
low gradient valley bottoms.  It is also frequently associated with
abandoned and sediment-filled beaver ponds [54].  These riparian sites
usually occur in broad montane and subalpine valleys.  Adjacent uplands
are dominated by Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), blue spruce (P.
pungens), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), lodgepole pine (Pinus
contorta), ponderosa pine (P. ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga
menziesii), aspen (Populus tremuloides), or big sagebrush (Artemisia
tridentata) [24,44,54].

Water relations:  Geyer willow occupies sites that range from wet to
relatively dry, but it rarely grows on sites where the water table is
deeper than 39 inches (1 m) [44].

Soils:  Geyer willow is usually found on deep, fine-textured mineral
soils of alluvial origin.  Near the surface they are often mottled and
have an accumulation of organic material [44,54].  Shallow organic soils
overlying alluvium may develop on wet, marshy, sedge-dominated sites
[44].

Associates:  On very wet sites, Geyer willow usually has understories
dominated by beaked sedge (Carex rostrata), water sedge (C. aquatilis),
and/or fowl bluegrass (Poa palustris).  On some of the drier sites Geyer
willow occupies, mesic forbs and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) are
common.  Other common understory associates include wooly sedge (Carex
lanuginosa), Sitka sedge (C. sitchensis), widefruit sedge (C.
eurycarpa), smallwing sedge (C. microptera), Baltic rush (Juncus
balticus), bluejoint reedgrass, and tufted hairgrass [24,30,44,54].
Associated willows are identified in the Habitat Types and Plant
Communities slot.

Elevation:  Geyer willow is found in the mountains at moderately low to
upper elevations.  In Utah, Geyer willow grows at a variety of
elevations, but it is most common at lower elevations in broad valleys
[44].  In Oregon, it is generally found at low to middle elevations
[30], and in Montana at middle to upper elevations [23].  Elevational
ranges for Geyer willow are presented below:

from 5,000 to 7,000 feet (1,525-2,134 m) in Arizona [29]
from 5,000 to 10,500 feet (1,524-3,200 m) in California [42]
from 4,000 to 8,000 feet (1,219-2,438 m) in east central Idaho [9]
from 3,700 to 7,800 feet (1,128-2,377 m) in southwestern Montana [24] 
from 6,500 to 8,500 feet (1,981-2,591 m) in Nevada [36]
from 3,100 to 5,900 feet (945-1,798 m) in southwestern Oregon [30]



SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Geyer willow communities usually occur in broad, open valleys and
meadows with fairly constant water supplies.  Communities on these sites
are relatively stable and maintained by seasonal flooding and high water
tables [9,44].  Geyer willow will not grow and reproduce in shade.  


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Flowering dates for some western states are as follows:

  location         month              reference

    CA           May-June               [42]
    CO           May-July               [13]
    UT           June-July              [13]
    WY           May-August             [13]

Geyer willow began dispersing seeds on July 1 in east-central Oregon
[43].  

Related categories for Species: Salix geyeriana | Geyer Willow