General: Narrowleaf Willow (Salix exigua) is a fairly common shrubby tree that grows along water courses in the Mojave Desert and gets to about 20 feet tall. The leaves are long (to about 8 inches) and narrow with a pointed tip. The leaves are also serrate, but the teeth are widely separated. Catkins produce cottony material that catch the wind and carry seeds away.
Narrowleaf Willow is a common component of vegetation communities in wet areas in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zones, although it grows to about 9,000 feet elevation.
Family: Willow (Salicaceae).
Other Names: Sandbar Willow, Narrow-leaved Willow, Coyote Willow. |