BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra | Diamondleaf Willow 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Diamondleaf willow is an upright, multiple-stemmed, deciduous shrub
generally between 3 and 6 feet (0.9 and 1.8 m) tall but occasionally up
to 15 feet (4.6 m) [35].  In exposed arctic and alpine sites it may
assume a low, prostrate form [35].  It has smooth, gray bark.  Male and
female flowers occur on separate plants in 0.5- to 3-inch-long erect
catkins [1].  The fruit is a two-valved silky,pubescent capsule 0.3 inch
(8 mm) long [35].


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


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Diamondleaf 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) [14].  At maturity, the fruit splits open, releasing the seed.
Each seed has a cottony down that aids in dispersal by wind and water
[6].  Seeds are dispersed during the growing season and remain viable
for only about 1 week [6].  The seeds contain significant amounts of
chlorophyll so that photosynthesis generally occurs as soon as the seed
is moistened.  Germination occurs within 24 hours of dispersal on moist
seedbeds [6].  In germination tests, 95 to 100 percent of seeds
germinated within 1 to 3 days at temperatures between 41 and 77 degrees
F (5-25 C) [7].  Exposed mineral soils provide the best seedbed.
Germination is inhibited by litter [14].

Vegetative reproduction:  Diamondleaf willow sprouts from the root crown
if aboveground stems are broken or destroyed by cutting, flooding, or
fire.  Detached stem fragments form adventitious roots if they remain
moist.  Thus portions of stems will root naturally if buried in moist
soil [14].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Diamondleaf willow grows in arctic and alpine tundra, open black and
white spruce (Picea mariana, P. glauca) woodlands, muskegs, and carex
fens [1].  In open spruce woodlands, diamondleaf willow trees usually
occur as scattered individuals but become more dense along riparian
areas [26,35].  In open black spruce woodlands, diamondleaf willow often
attains highest cover in areas with shallow, perched water tables on the
surface of permafrost [9].  In the mountains of interior Alaska, it
often forms extensive thickets above timberline [17].  It also forms
extensive thickets in treeless bogs, and at treeline in northern Alaska
[35].  In arctic tundra it grows on river banks, islands, river
terraces, and on rolling uplands [4].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Diamondleaf willow is a component of stable, shrub-dominated tundra
communities [3,4].  It is intolerant of shade, and uncommon in climax
boreal forests, unless they remain relatively open.  Foote [12] reported
diamondleaf willow occurring in early successional stages following
wildfire in black spruce forests.  It reached its greatest abundance
about 30 years after fire, but thereafter declined as it was overtopped
by trees; by 56 years after fire, it was absent.  Along the Chena River
in interior Alaska, diamondleaf willow was not found in successional
terrace communities but grew only as scattered individuals in climax
black spruce/sphagnum moss stands [29].  These climax stands provided
favorable sites for diamondleaf willow because they were relatively open
and wet due to extensive permafrost.


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Diamondleaf willow catkins appear in the early spring before the leaves
are fully expanded [35].  In Alaska, flowering generally occurs in May
and June, and seeds generally mature in late May, June, and July [7,35].
Seeds are dispersed soon after ripening; dispersal occurs later with
increasing latitude and elevation.  For example, seeds are dispersed
from late May to early June in the Fairbanks area but are not dispersed
until early August along the Meade River [7].

Related categories for Species: Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra | Diamondleaf Willow