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Feltleaf Willow

Salix alaxensis

Description
Range
Habitat
Human Uses

This species is one of the 50 or more willows found in Beringia. They range from tiny, prostrate shrubs to semi-erect bushes three meters (10 feet) tall. Their leaves range from small and round to large, long shapes. This highly variable group has two features that, taken together, distinguish it from other shrubs: tiny flowers clustered in dense, often fuzzy cylindrical heads called catkins; and plumed seeds that are dispersed by the wind. A rather unusual feature is that male and female flowers grow on separate plants.

The taller willows often grow in thickets with dwarf birch and, more rarely, alder. Although willow shrub communities cover only a small amount of territory in modern Beringia, they are exceedingly important to animals. They provide nesting places for songbirds; bluethroats, warblers and others. Unlike most shrubs of this region, they do not strongly defend themselves from herbivores by producing toxins. Thus willows are good forage for caribou and small rodents. Moose are able to extend their range into the Arctic on the basis of willow thickets, browsing the leaves in summer, the twigs in winter, and stripping the sweet bark in early spring. Winter willow buds are eaten by ptarmigan; the plump birds in turn provide winter feasts for foxes and people.

Scientists are attempting to reconstruct a picture of the plants that grew on land bridge Beringia during the Ice Ages, and to understand how those plants supported an array of large grazing animals, Most agree that willow shrub communities existed then, especially in the more southern regions now covered by the sea. As in modern Beringia, willows probably covered only a minority of the landscape, but would have been exceedingly important in increasing the forage diversity and thus the diversity of herbivores the land could support.

Many cultures have discovered the medicinal values of willows. Aspirin was originally made from willow bark. In the late 19th century a way was discovered to synthesize the active ingredient, soon displacing the natural compounds. Willow bark is an effective anti-inflammatory, pain reliever and fever treatment. Besides internal uses, it is used in liniments for inflamed muscles and the crushed leaves have been used to treat hornet stings. Willows are one of the few, precious sources of firewood in the tundra, and as such can be easily over harvested.