Salix arizonica is a species of willow known by the common name Arizona willow. It is native to the southwestern United States, where it occurs in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.[1]
This shrub varies in size and shape, occurring in low mats or upright, sometimes forming thickets.[2] It reaches 2.6[3] to 3 meters[2] in maximum height. The branches are often bright red in color,[1][2] while the smaller twigs are yellowish, reddish, or brownish, with a coating of hairs.[3] The leaves are generally oval in shape and have smooth or serrated margins. The shiny leaf blades are up to 5 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a catkin. The species is dioecious. Flowering occurs in May and June.[3] The shiny leaves of this willow help distinguish it from other willows in the habitat, all of which have waxy leaves.[2]
This species is very similar to Salix boothii, a plant that has certain flavonoids that are lacking in Salix arizonica.[3] They can also be distinguished by the size and shape of the leaves.[1]
This willow occurs in three main areas, the White Mountains of Arizona (including Mt. Baldy), the plateaus of Utah, and the Rocky Mountains of southern Colorado and New Mexico. This plant grows in subalpine meadows and cienegas and on streambanks. It occurs in spots where there is moisture available year-round. Other species in the habitat include Dasiphora floribunda, Caltha leptosepala, Carex spp., Deschampsia caespitosa, Pedicularis groenlandica, Picea engelmannii, Poa pratensis and other willow species, such as S. monticola and S. planifolia.[1]
The main threat to this species is grazing by livestock and wild ungulates.[1] Animals reduce the plants' biomass and height as well as their survival and ability to reproduce sexually.[4] Other threats include alteration of the local hydrology, logging, road maintenance, recreational activity, ski resort activity, fungi of the Melampsora epitea species complex, and climate change.[1][5]
This species has been shown to have significant genetic variation between its well-separated populations.[6]
Salix arizonica is a species of willow known by the common name Arizona willow. It is native to the southwestern United States, where it occurs in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.
This shrub varies in size and shape, occurring in low mats or upright, sometimes forming thickets. It reaches 2.6 to 3 meters in maximum height. The branches are often bright red in color, while the smaller twigs are yellowish, reddish, or brownish, with a coating of hairs. The leaves are generally oval in shape and have smooth or serrated margins. The shiny leaf blades are up to 5 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a catkin. The species is dioecious. Flowering occurs in May and June. The shiny leaves of this willow help distinguish it from other willows in the habitat, all of which have waxy leaves.
This species is very similar to Salix boothii, a plant that has certain flavonoids that are lacking in Salix arizonica. They can also be distinguished by the size and shape of the leaves.
This willow occurs in three main areas, the White Mountains of Arizona (including Mt. Baldy), the plateaus of Utah, and the Rocky Mountains of southern Colorado and New Mexico. This plant grows in subalpine meadows and cienegas and on streambanks. It occurs in spots where there is moisture available year-round. Other species in the habitat include Dasiphora floribunda, Caltha leptosepala, Carex spp., Deschampsia caespitosa, Pedicularis groenlandica, Picea engelmannii, Poa pratensis and other willow species, such as S. monticola and S. planifolia.
The main threat to this species is grazing by livestock and wild ungulates. Animals reduce the plants' biomass and height as well as their survival and ability to reproduce sexually. Other threats include alteration of the local hydrology, logging, road maintenance, recreational activity, ski resort activity, fungi of the Melampsora epitea species complex, and climate change.
This species has been shown to have significant genetic variation between its well-separated populations.
Salix arizonica est une espèce de saule connu sous le nom de saule d'Arizona (en anglais : Arizona willow). Il est originaire du sud-ouest des États-Unis d'Amérique : Arizona, Colorado, Nouveau-Mexique et Utah[1].
Ce buisson varie en forme et taille. Il évolue en bas tapis ou au contraire dressé, formant parfois des broussailles[2]. Il peut passer de 7 cm[3] à 3 mètres[2], sa hauteur maximum. Les branches sont souvent d'un rouge brillant[1],[2] alors que les jeunes rameaux sont plutôt jaunâtres, rougeâtres ou brunâtres avec un revêtement duveteux[3]. Les feuilles sont généralement ovales et possèdent une bordure lisse ou dentée. Les feuilles brillantes font jusqu'à 5 centimètres de long, ce sont elles qui permettent de distinguer l'espèce de ses parentes : toutes les autres ont des feuilles cireuses[2]. L'inflorescence est un chaton.
La floraison intervient en mai et juin[3].
Cette espèce ressemble beaucoup à Salix boothii qui contient des flavonoïdes, absents chez Salix arizonica[3]. La forme et la taille de ces deux espèces voisines sont aussi très différentes[1].
Salix arizonica pousse dans trois endroits principaux : White Mountains en Arizona (y compris Mt. Baldy), les plateaux de l'Utah, et les Rocky Mountains du sud du Colorado au Nouveau-Mexique. La plante se plaît dans les prairies subalpines et sur les rives des cours d'eau où le substrat est humide toute l'année.
Les autres espèces côtoyant Salix arizonica : Dasiphora floribunda, Caltha leptosepala, Carex spp., Deschampsia caespitosa, Pedicularis groenlandica, Picea engelmannii, Poa pratensis et d'autres espèces de saules dont S. monticola et S. planifolia[1].
Salix arizonica sert de nourriture au bétail et aux ongulés sauvages[1]. Ces animaux perturbent la reproduction sexuée des plantes aussi bien que leur survie[4]. Leur existence est aussi menacée par l'altération de l'hydrologie locale, la construction d'habitations, les voies de communication, la maintenance des routes, les loisirs, activités nautiques et les champignons tels les espèces de Melampsora epitea ainsi que les changements climatiques[1],[5].
Des variations génétiques significatives ont été mises en évidence pour les variétés poussant dans des régions éloignées les unes des autres[6].
Salix arizonica est une espèce de saule connu sous le nom de saule d'Arizona (en anglais : Arizona willow). Il est originaire du sud-ouest des États-Unis d'Amérique : Arizona, Colorado, Nouveau-Mexique et Utah.
