Introductory
SPECIES: Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra | Diamondleaf Willow 



ABBREVIATION : 
SALPLNP

SYNONYMS : 
   Salix pulchra Cham.
   Salix pulchra var. yukonensis Schneid.


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   SAPLP


COMMON NAMES : 
   diamondleaf willow
   tealeaf willow
   tea-leaved willow
   thin red willow


TAXONOMY : 
The currently accepted scientific name of diamondleaf willow is Salix
planifolia Pursh ssp. pulchra [1,5].  

The species S. planifolia Pursh has been variously interpreted by
taxonomists.  Hitchcock and Cronquist [16] and Hulten [17] considered it
a North American form of a circumboreal species:  S. phylicifolia L.
ssp. planifolia (Pursh) Hiitonen.  However, recent studies have shown
that chromosome counts from North American plants differ from European
plants.  Thus, Argus [1] and Dorn [8] consider North American and
Eurasian plants distinct species:

  Salix phylicifolia = European and Asian plants
  Salix planifolia = North American plants

Two subspecies of S. planifolia Pursh, separated primarily
geographically, are recognized [1,5]:

  ssp. planifolia - planeleaf willow (primarily south of northern
                                     British Columbia)
  ssp. pulchra (Cham.) Argus - diamondleaf willow (Alaska and adjacent
                                                  Northwest Territories)

This report's discussion is restricted to the northwestern subspecies,
diamondleaf willow.  Two varieties of diamondleaf willow are recognized
[1,5]:

  var. pulchra
  var. yukonensis (Schneid.) Argus


LIFE FORM : 
Shrub

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
Ronald Uchytil, August 1991


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Uchytil, Ronald J. 1991. Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra. In: Remainder of Citation

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