DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Salix lanata ssp. richardsonii | Richardson Willow 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION : 
Richardson willow occurs from the Arctic Coast southward through most of
central and south-central Alaska; it does not occur in the western
Alaskan Peninsula or Kenai Peninsula.  It extends eastward across
northern Canada to the Baffin Islands; southward to northwest Hudson
Bay; and west to northern Britsh Columbia [1,5,19,35].
  


ECOSYSTEMS : 
   FRES44  Alpine


STATES : 
     AK  BC  NT  YT


ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS : 
     DENA  GLBA


BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS : 
NO-ENTRY


KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS : 
   K052  Alpine meadows and barren


SAF COVER TYPES : 
   201  White spruce
   202  White spruce - paper birch
   203  Balsam poplar
   204  Black spruce
   217  Aspen
   251  White spruce - aspen
   252  Paper birch
   253  Black spruce - white spruce
   254  Black spruce -  paper birch


SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES : 
NO-ENTRY


HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES : 
Richardson willow is a common, thicket-forming shrub of streambanks and
moist slopes in the Arctic and above timberline where it is often
associated with alders (Alnus spp.) and birch (Betula spp.); it is also
found in open spruce (Picea spp.) stands and old burns at lower
elevations [5,35].  Richardson willow can also be found in floodplain
thickets on rivers and grows on newly exposed alluvial deposits that are
periodically flooded [12,35].  Individual shrubs can be found on
south-facing steppes, on pingos found in permafrost regions, and on dry,
rock outcrops [13,39].  Published classifications describing Richardson
willow as a codominant in community types are listed below:
  
     Arctic community types of Northwest Alaska [12].
     

Related categories for Species: Salix lanata ssp. richardsonii | Richardson Willow