Salicaceae (Willow Family) Members of Salicaceae have deciduous leaves that are alternate, and the flowers are concentrated in catkins. Each plant has either staminate or pistillate catkins. The flowers have no petals or sepals, but each has a small scale-like bract below it. These developing catkins on willows form the well-known "pussy-willow" branches. Except for two species of Populas (Cottonwood), all the members of Salicaceae in the Bay Area are of the genera Salix (Willows). Cottonwoods have a cup-shaped disk under each flower, while Willows have 1 or 2 glands in the same area. Staminate flowers may have 1 or many stamens. Pistillate flowers have one pistil, which may have 2 -4 stigmas and that produce the same number of seeds. The seeds are wind dispersed with the aid of long hairs. On Montara Mountain, we can find Salix lasiolepis (Arroyo Willow) and Salix sitchensis (Sitka Willow)

Salix lasiolepis Arroyo Willow Salicaceae (Willow Family) Flowers: Yellow catkins, upright from branch, with numerous flowers, appearing before new leaves. Up to 7 cm long. Blooms: January - February Leaves: Narrow, green to green-gray, round tip and hairless; smooth edged or with very fine teeth. 4 - 12 cm long. Fruit/Seeds: Small, cottony, wind-dispersed from caitkin. Location: Riparian areas and wetlands, seep areas, or areas with high groundwater. Status: Native - Common.

Salix lasiolepis 600x450 JPEG - 24K The male catkins in February. Female catkins are more greenish and have a spiny appearance.

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Further description & Comment: Various forms, from 6 ft shrub to 30 ft tree. Deciduous. Grows in dense stands. The Arroyo Willow can be differentiated from Salix sitchensis (Sitka Willow) most easily by its longer, smoother, not hairy, lighter colored leaves, wider range and larger size.

Salix sitchensis Sitka Willow Salicaceae (Willow Family) Flowers: Cream to yellow colored catkins, upright from branch, with numerous flowers, appearing before new leaves. Up to 7 cm long. Blooms: January - February Leaves: Elongated oval, shiny green on top, with silky-hairy underside; smooth edged, often with margins rolled under. 4 - 12 cm long. Fruit/Seeds: Small, cottony, wind-dispersed from caitkin. Location: Restricted to creeksides and wet habitats. Status: Native - Common.	Salix sitchensis
Further description & Comment: Deciduous tree, no more than 20 ft tall. Grows in dense stands. The Sitka Willow can be differentiated from Salix lasiolepis (Arroyo Willow) most easily by its darker, oval leaves with a silky-hairy underside, restricted range (usually only around surface water) and smaller size. Sitkas will also have their leaves budding while the catkins are developing - Arroyos will form their catkins well before their leaves.
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