About Salix lucida Muhl.
Salix lucida Muhl., commonly known as shining willow, Pacific willow, red willow, or whiplash willow, is a willow species native to northern and western North America, where it grows in wetland habitats. It is the largest willow species found in British Columbia. This is a deciduous large shrub or small tree that reaches a height of 4 to 15 metres (13 to 49 ft). Shoots of this species range in color from greenish-brown to grey-brown. Its leaves are narrow elliptic to lanceolate, measuring 4 to 17 centimetres (1+1⁄2 to 6+1⁄2 in) long and 1 to 3.5 cm (1⁄2 to 1+1⁄2 in) broad. The upper leaf surface is glossy dark green, while the lower surface is typically glaucous green; leaves can be hairless or thinly hairy. Its flowers are yellow catkins 1 to 9 cm (1⁄2 to 3+1⁄2 in) long, produced in late spring after leaves emerge. Three subspecies are recognized: S. l. lucida (shining willow), which ranges from Newfoundland west to eastern Saskatchewan, and south to Maryland and South Dakota; S. l. lasiandra (Benth.) E.Murray, synonym S. lasiandra Benth., (Pacific willow), which ranges from Alaska east to Northwest Territory, and south to California and New Mexico; and S. l. caudata (Nutt.) E.Murray (whiplash willow), which occurs in interior western North America from eastern British Columbia south to eastern California and Nevada. Some authors include S. l. caudata within S. l. lasiandra. This species is closely related to Salix pentandra from Europe and Asia.
