| Salix alaxensis (Anderss.) Cov. |
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Family | Salicaceae — APG family: Salicaceae |
Synonyms | Salix speciosa Hook., Salix speciosa var. alaxensis Anderss. |
Common name | alaska willow |
Description | Shrub or small tree, up to 6-8 meters tall; young twigs woolly; leaves oblanceo- late to obovate, acute (rarely lanceolate), with dense, white felt beneath; catkins stout, sessile, erect, appearing at same time as young leaves; stipules glandular on margin, tomentose; capsules densely white-haired; stamens 2; filaments glabrous. |
Ecology | Common along creeks and rivers, in the Yukon to at least 1,800 meters. |
Uses | The inner bark, or “keeleeyuk,” is scraped together and eaten by the natives. (See color section.) |