Salix-alpina_20b

Description:

Salix alpina Scop., syn.: Salix jacquinii Host.Alpine Willow, DE: Alpen Weide, Ostalpen WeideSlo.: alpska vrbaDate: May 11. 2015 (male catkins)Code: Bot_874/2015_DSC6342Lat.: 46.43281 Long.: 13.63980Habitat: mountain pasture; moderately inclined mountain slope, north aspect; shallow, skeletal, generally calcareous ground, locally probably somewhat acid (associated with Loiseleuria procumbens); sunny, open place; exposed to direct rain; elevation 1.930 m (6.330 feet); average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 0-2 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil among rocks.Place: Mt. Mangart plateau, south of mountain pass between Mt. Mangart and Mt. Mali vrh, toward the top of Mt. Mali vrh, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC Comment: A few species of very large genus Salix (willows, which are usually more or less large trees or shrubs) drastically accommodated their habitus to harsh conditions in sub- and alpine elevations. Their growth is highly reduced, so they are only a few cm tall trees with true wooden braches. Some even hide their 'trunks' underground. These are so called dwarf willows. In Slovenian Alps we know five species of them. To distinguish them only from their leaves requires quite a bit of experience. When they bloom another problem arises. They are unisexual plants. This means that there exist male plants with male flowers (catkins) only and female plants with female flowers (catkins) only. Male and female catkins differ significantly in their appearance. So, one ends up with ten different but still similarly looking plants to be recognized. Still, quite a challenge!Salix alpina is the tallest of all five. Usually it is not much higher than a few cm, but it can be up to 30 cm tall. One can recognize its male plants by catkins, which have long violet-pink stamens. Catkins develop approximately at the same time as leaves, which are densely silvery hairy when young. Grown up leaves are more or less glabrous but at the edge distinctly fringed. Female catkins are densely silvery hairy and look similar to what we know as 'normal' silvery-gray willow catkins. When they ripe the fruits are glabrous (without hairs) and reddish. Salix alpina is restricted to East Alps and Carpathians. Ref.:(1) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 462.(2) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 440.(3) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 467. (4) K.Lauber and G.Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 414.