Salix amygdaloides Andersson
peach-leaf willow (peachleaf willow)
Salicaceae (Willow family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Adolf Ceska     (Photo ID #11027)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Salix amygdaloides
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Introduction

This is a deciduous species of wetland tree.

Species Information

General:
Trees, 4-20 m tall, not colonial; branches erect, somewhat brittle at base; twigs yellowish to brown, smooth; bud scale margins free and overlapping.
Leaves:
Alternate, simple; very narrowly elliptic to lance-shaped, 5.5-13 cm long, 2.5-4 cm wide, lower surface glaucous, smooth, upper surface dull, smooth or hairy, margins toothed, bases pointed to rounded, tips tapered or long tapering to a tail-like tip; leaf stalks with or without glandular dots at top, stipules rudimentary or leaflike on vigorous shoots.
Flowers:
Unisexual, lacking sepals and petals; borne in catkins which flower as leaves emerge, the catkins slender, on leafy twigs; floral bracts pale, hairs wavy, female bracts deciduous; stamens 3-7; ovaries 1, smooth; styles 0.2-0.4 mm long.
Fruits:
Capsules which split open to release the seeds, each of which is surrounded by a tuft of hairs; stalks 1.4-3.2 mm long.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
White
Blooming Period:
Late Spring
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Salix amygdaloides

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1062 390 2040
Slope Gradient (%)
5 0 38

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

84 26 320
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
5 2 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
17
Modal BEC Zone Class
SBS

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

BWBS(1), ESSF(4), ICH(1), IDF(1), PP(2), SBS(5)

Habitat and Range

Moist to mesic floodplains and lakeshores in the steppe zone; rare in SC BC; E to PQ and S to PA, IN, MO, TX, NM, AZ, NV and OR.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Salix amygdaloides var. wrightii (Anderss.) Schneid.
Salix nigra var. amygdaloides (Anderss.) Anderss.
Salix nigra var. wrightii (Anderss.) Anderss.
Salix wrightii Anderss.