| Species: | Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra |
| Common name and alpha code | Pacific willow/ red willow SALUL (was S. lasiandra) |
| Propagation Method (Seed, Vegetative) | Vegetative 51 Softwood. Seeds must be only a few days old. 123 |
| Miscellaneous
|
Salicaceae; willow family Survives and colonizes after fire.123fire. 123 Male and female catkins are borne on separate plants. 129; grows 40-60 ft 224 |
| TABLE: | SEED |
| Seeds/Lb. | 11,500,000 cleaned. 129 |
| Germ %
|
Germinative capacity 25% tested
on agar at 72oF for 3 days. 129 Germination may be tested on moist sand or on paper in petri dishes. There has been relatively little recent research on the germination of Salix species. 146 |
| Germ Test Amt | |
| Germ Test Cost | |
| Purity % | |
| Purity Test Amt | |
| Purity Test Cost | |
| Germination Pretreatment Requirement
|
Under natural conditions, willow seeds usually germinate in 12-24 hrs on moist sand. Seed dormancy has not been observed in any species that disperses seeds in the spring. Some disperse seeds in late fall. These species acquire a temperature-related dormancy; they will not germinate at low temperatures. Cool-moist stratification breaks down this dormancy. 145 |
| Seed Processing Needed e.g. Awns | |
| Storage Requirements | It is unnecessary to separate
seed from the opened capsules. Maximum period of storage is from 4-6 weeks, but
germination rates drop off rapidly after 10 days for seed stored at room temperature.
Moistened seed may be stored up to a month if refrigerated in sealed containers. 129 Usually no commercial seed available since willow seed viability is very short lived. 146 |
| Storage Length (Years) | |
| Maturity Date | Flowers in the spring with the appearance of leaves. Seeds dispersed from spring through early summer. 99 |
| Pollinators | |
| Seed Dispersal Mechanism | Wind, water 146 |
| Breeding: self; Cross; Asexual Reproduction | |
| Disease Problems | |
| Insect Predation | |
| Hand Collection Methods, Problems and Cost/Lb. | Each fruit (capsule) contains
many minute, hairy seeds. These usually ripen in early summer, but the seeds of some
species mature in the fall. 145 Frequent observations are necessary to determine maturity, at which time the capsules can be collected by picking from the trees. 146 |
| TABLE: | SEED INCREASE INFO |
| Sow Rate for Seed Increase Plantation, Lb./Acre | |
| 1st Year Yield, Lb./acre | |
| 2nd Year Yield, Lb./acre | |
| Field Life Span: Years | |
| Production Cost/Lb. | |
| Field Distance Requirements | |
| Sow Date | |
| Miscellaneous Increase Info. | |
| TABLE: | VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION |
| Type of
Material (Age, Plant Part, Etc.) |
Take cuttings
in early spring or fall from 1-4 year old wood. 99 Easily rooted from its entire stem. 133 Very easy to grow from hardwood stakes and cuttings. 211. |
| Size of Material to Collect | Stems greater than 1 cm in diameter; cut to lengths of 30-50 cm. 99 |
| Season of Collection | |
| Collection Method | Cut terminal end horizontally and basal end at 45o angle. 99 |
| To Nursery: Storage and Shipping Requirements | Bundle stems into groups of 50-100 and dip in a fungicide. Store cuttings for long periods by wrapping them in plastic bags and keeping them just above freezing. For short storage periods wrap them in moist burlap, sawdust, peat, or newspaper, and keep out of direct sunlight. 99 |
| Miscellaneous
Vegetative Propagation Info.
|
Willows in
general sprout vigorously when cut. Plants cut during the dormant season sprout most
vigorously. Sprouts can grow 2-3 m in the first growing season. Damaged stems may sprout,
buried branch parts may root, seedling establishment is favored by mineral soil. Willows
sprout following fire, and usually increase cover within a few years. 187 Preroot in a greenhouse and allow to harden off prior to outplanting, or plant directly on site. Clearings of 50-75 cm around cuttings help reduce competition. Plant with 25-40% left above ground. 99 Air temperature should be lower than that of planting medium to enable rooting to proceed while leaf and bud growth is retarded. Ideal planting medium is 1:2 peat and coarse sand, wetted. Strip hardwood or softwood cuttings of leaves, immerse in fungicidal solution, dip the base of each cutting in rooting hormone solution, insert at least half its length in the mixture; cover surface with a layer of fine pebbles or grit to reduce the risk of stem rot. Cover softwood cuttings to reduce transpiration loss and to provide shade. 193 Unrooted willow slips should be from 3-5 year old branches; at least 16" long; ½ - 1" diameter; placed in soil with at least 2 and preferably 3 buds buried for every exposed bud; placed in soil right side up – use diagonal cut on bottom; planted when dormant (if not, strip leaves before planting); planted where they will have moisture available during entire growing season (or irrigate); can be stored for up to 4 months if kept moist (not wet) at 32-34oF. Dipping slips in fungicide and rooting compound will reduce mortality. 32 Unrooted willow slips: Use iron bar to make holes in soil; avoid stripping bark when planting. Plant a minimum of 3/4 of the cutting length in the ground. Place 1-2 feet apart where lower end is in or near a permanently wet place. 196 |
| TABLE: | NURSERY PRODUCTION (See also J. H. Stone Nursery Desk Guide, reference # 185) |
| Nursery Stock Type; Container Size | |
| Cost/1,000 | |
| Number of Growing Seasons | |
| Grow Specifications | |
| Miscellaneous
Nursery Production Info.
|
Seed must be
sown immediately after collection. The opened capsules and seed are broadcast on
well-prepared beds, followed by light packing with a roller. Seedbeds must be kept moist
until the seedlings are well established. To conserve moisture and maintain a high
relative humidity near the bed surface, close shading often is provided with slats and
burlap. If the seedling stand is too dense, a higher percentage of plantable trees can be
obtained by transplanting the seedlings at 3-4 weeks. 129 Sow in flats in a sand:perlite:vermiculite:peat (inorganics:organics 4:1) medium and set in shade house. Transplant to individual containers and keep moist for 3-4 months. Disease in the nursery and on site with newly established plantings: stem canker, poplar-and willow borer, willow blight that is actually two pathogens, the willow scab and the black canker. 99 |
| TABLE: | HABITAT |
| Plant Association Groups
|
Habitat: typically trees of river banks, freshwater swamps and moist alluvial bottomlands, at least in the early stages of forest succession 153. Associated with Alnus rubra and Populus balsamifera trichocarpa 152. Ranges from Alaska to Saskatchewan, the Black Hills of South Dakota, southwest through the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico and southern California. Grows in association with other willows, red alder and black cottonwood, along streambanks, lakes and waterholes. 99 ; grows in wet soils along streams, lakes, roadside ditches, and wet meadows with full sun exposure 224 |
| Drought Tolerance | |
| Soil: Texture, Chemicals | Gravelly soils 152. Well-drained sandy loams to rich, rocky or gravelly soils 99 |
| Soil Depth | |
| Ave. Precip. Needs | |
| Flooding or High Water Tolerance | Tolerates seasonal flooding 224 |
| Soil Stabilization | Deep roots hold streambanks in place. 133 |
| Palatability and Attractiveness to Animals; Response to Grazing | Willows in general: Browse for
ungulates; shoots, buds and catkins eaten by rodents, other small mammals, and birds;
nesting sites. Medium to high palatability for cattle. 187 Heavily consumed by beaver during the winter months. Least Bell’s Vireo, an endangered bird, uses the Pacific willow to nest. 99 |
| Elevation Range | Sea level to 2550 m 99 |
| Competitiveness | |
| Plasticity | |
| Root System: Rhizomes, Stolons, etc. | |
| Shade tolerance | |
| TABLE: | CONSERVATION SOWING OR PLANTING ON N.F. SITES |
| Sow Rate for Sowing on National Forest Sites, Lb./Acre | |
| Sowing Method and Date | |
| Planting Density, Spacing | |
| Planting Method and Date | |
| Animal Damage Control in Plantings | |
| Miscellaneous | Tallest of the willows (40-60 feet). 211. |