[Broadleaf Trees and Shrubs of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Willows of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington

The Genus Salix

Male catkin of greenleaf willow (Salix lasiandra var. caudata)

A male catkin of greenleaf willow (Salix lasiandra var. caudata). If you look closely, you will note that the florets have 3 stamens, which limits what this can be.

The following is probably an incomplete list of willows to be seen in the Columbia River Gorge:

Unidentified Willows: Please help identify these unknown willows if you can!

Peachleaf Willow, Peach-leaf Willow: Salix amygdaloides (Synonyms: Salix amygdaloides var. wrightii, Salix nigra var. amygdaloides, Salix nigra var. wrightii, Salix wrightii) -

Bebb's Willow, Gray Willow Long-beak Willow: Salix bebbiana (Synonyms: Salix bebbiana var. capreifolia, Salix bebbiana var. depilis, Salix bebbiana var. luxurians, Salix bebbiana var. perrostrata, Salix bebbiana var. projecta) -

Columbia River Willow, Coyote Willow, Narrowleaf Willow: Salix exigua (Synonyms: Salix argophylla, Salix exigua var. angustissima, Salix exigua var. columbiana, Salix exigua var. exigua, Salix exigua var. hindsiana, Salix exigua var. luteosericea, Salix exigua var. nevadensis, Salix exigua var. stenophylla, Salix exigua var. virens, Salix parishiana) -

Columbia River Willow: Salix exigua var. columbiana (Synonyms: Salix columbiana, Salix fluviatilis) -

Coyote Willow, Narroleaf Willow: Salix exigua ssp. exigua (Synonyms: ) -

Coastal Willow, Dune Willow, Hooker's Willow: Salix hookeriana (Synonyms: Salix amplifolia, Salix hookeriana var. laurifolia, Salix hookeriana var. tomentosa, Salix piperi) -

Greenleaf Willow, Pacific Willow, Tall Leaf Willow, Whiplash Willow: Salix lasiandra var. caudata (Synonyms: Salix caudata, Salix caudata var. bryantiana, Salix caudata var. caudata, Salix caudata var. parvifolia, Salix lasiandra ssp. caudata, Salix lasiandra var. fendleriana, Salix lucida, Salix lucida ssp. caudata)

Pacific Willow, Red Willow: Salix lasiandra var. lasiandra (Synonyms: Salix lasiandra, Salix lasiandra var. abramsii, Salix lasiandra var. lancifolia, Salix lasiandra var. lyallii, Salix lasiandra var. macrophylla, Salix lasiandra var. recomponens, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra) -

Arroyo Willow: Salix lasiolepis (Synonyms: Salix lasiolepis var. bakeri, Salix lasiolepis var. bigelovii, Salix lasiolepis var. lasiolepis) -

Columbia River Willow, Dusky Willow: Salix melanopsis (Synonyms: Salix exigua ssp. melanopsis, Salix exigua var. gracilipes, Salix exigua var. tenerrima, Salix melanopsis var. bolanderiana, Salix melanopsis var. tenerrima, Salix sessilifolia var. vancouverensis) -

Mackenzie's Willow: Salix prolixa (Synonyms: Salix cordata var. mackenzieana, Salix eriocephala ssp. mackenzieana, Salix eriocephala var. mackenzieana, Salix mackenzieana, Salix mackenzieana var. mackenzieana, Salix mackenzieana var. macrogemma, Salix rigida ssp. mackenzieana, Salix rigida var. mackenzieana, Salix rigida var. macrogemma) -

Scouler's Willow: Salix scouleriana (Synonyms: Salix scouleriana var. brachystachys, Salix scouleriana var. coetaenea, Salix scouleriana var. crassijulis, Salix scouleriana var. flavescens, Salix scouleriana var. poikila, Salix scouleriana var. scouleriana, Salix scouleriana var. thompsonii, Salix stagnalis) -

Weeping Willow: Salix x sepulcralis (alba x ?pendulina) (Synonyms: Salix babylonica, Salix xchrysocoma, Salix salomonii, Salix xsepulcralis var. chrysocoma) -

Northwest Sandbar Willow, Soft-leaved Willow: Salix sessilifolia (Synonyms: Salix exigua var. sessilifolia, Salix fluviatilis, Salix fluviatilis var. sessilifolia, Salix longifolia var. sessilifolia, Salix macrostachya, Salix macrostachya var. cusickii, Salix sessilifolia var villosa) -

Sitka Willow: Salix sitchensis (Synonyms: Salix coulteri, Salix cuneata, Salix sitchensis var. congesta, Salix sitchensis var. denudata, Salix sitchensis var. parviflora, Salix sitchensis var. ralphiana) -

Weeping Willow, Wisconsin Weeping Willow: Salix x sepulcralis (Synonyms: Salix x pendulina) - I'm just taking an educated guess that this is what the weeping willows in the Gorge might be.


Paul Slichter