Salicaceae - willow family
Mount Desert Island is home to 11 species in 2 genera that grow without cultivation. If you already know which species you have or are interested in learning about, click on the appropriate species link below. Otherwise, to determine which genus that the plant in question falls into, refer to the table immediately below the species list.
Populus (4 species)
Populus alba - white poplar (occasional [see note 1 at bottom of page])
Populus balsamifera - balsam poplar (uncommon)
Populus grandidentata - big-toothed poplar (common)
Populus tremuloides - quaking poplar (common)
Salix (7 species)
Salix bebbiana - long-beaked willow (common)
Salix discolor - pussy willow (common)
Salix eriocephala - red-tipped willow (uncommon)
Salix humilis - prairie willow (uncommon)
Salix petiolaris - slender willow (occasional)
Salix pyrifolia - balsam willow (uncommon)
Salix sericea - silky willow (occasional)
| winter bud scale number | |
| Populus | more than 1 |
| Salix | 1 |
Populus
[information to be added]
Populus alba (white poplar) is easily identifiable due to the dense covering of white hairs on the abaxial (lower) surface of the leaf. Several specimens grow on the south side of the Otter Cliffs Road between Fabbri picnic area and the loop road. Leaves from one of those trees are shown below.
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Populus balsamifera (balsam poplar) - [information to be added]
(click on image to enlarge)
Populus grandidentata (big-toothed poplar) - [information to be added]
(click on an image to enlarge)
Populus tremuloides (quaking poplar)
13 April 2008 - Great Meadow loop (Bar Harbor): shedding pollen [JEW]
(click on image to enlarge)
Salix
[information to be added]
Salix bebbiana (long-beaked willow) - [information to be added]
(click on image to enlarge)
Salix discolor (pussy willow) - [information to be added]
(click on image to enlarge)
Salix eriocephala (heart-leaved willow) - [information to be added]
(click on image to enlarge)
Salix humilis (prairie willow) - [information to be added]
Salix petiolaris (meadow willow) - [information to be added]
Salix pyrifolia (balsam willow) - [information to be added]
Salix sericea (silky willow) - [information to be added]
Note:
1. Frequency designations are from the paper “Vascular flora of the Acadia National Park region, Maine” by Craig W. Greene, Linda L. Gregory, Glen H. Mittelhauser, Sally C. Rooney, and Jill E. Weber, published in the spring 2005 issue (vol. 107, No. 930) of Rhodora: Journal of the New England Botanical Club.