Alpine Willow

Description

S. arctica is typically a low shrub growing to only 15 cm (6 in) in height (rarely to 25 cm (10 in) high), but in the Pacific Northwest, it may reach 50 cm (20 in) in height, and has round, shiny green leaves 1-4 cm (0.4-1.6 in) long and broad, rarely up to 8 centimetres (3 in) long, and 6 cm (2.4 in) broad; they are pubescent, with long, silky, silvery hairs. Like the rest of the willows, arctic willow is dioecious, with male and female catkins on separate plants. As a result, the plant's appearance varies; the female catkins are red-coloured, while the male catkins are yellow-coloured. Despite its small size, it is a long-lived plant, growing extremely slowly in the severe arctic climate; one in eastern Greenland was found to be 236 years old.