Feltleaf wiillow, Alaska Willow
Salix alaxensis

Family: Salicaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows up to 7 m high and the trunk is 18 cm thick. The leaves are large and can be narrow. They are dark green on the upper surface and woolly underneath. The twigs are also woolly. The flowers are in catkins.

There are about 300 Salix species.

Where it is found

it is a cold temperate plant. It grows along rivers.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Canada, Faroe Islands, North America, Russia, USA

How it is used for food

The sweet nectar of the flowers is sucked by children. The young leaf buds can be eaten. They are eaten raw with seal oil. The young stems have the bark removed and then are chewed. Occasionally the young leaves are eaten. They are also stored in seal oil for later use.

Edible parts

Inner bark, leaves, nectar

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Uqviaq, Uqvigpak, Uqvik

Synonyms

Salix speciosa Hook. & Arn.; Salix speciosa var. alaxensis Andersson;