Salix caroliniana

Salix caroliniana
Photo by Wayne Matchett, SpaceCoastWildflowers.com
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Salicales
Family:	Salicaceae
Genus:	Salix
Species:	S. caroliniana
Binomial name
Salix caroliniana Michx.
Natural range of Salix caroliniana from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common names: Coastal plain willow, Carolina willow

Taxonomic notes

Synonyms: Salix amphibia Small; S. longipes Andersson

Description

A description of Salix caroliniana is provided in The Flora of North America.

Distribution

Distributed from eastern and central United States west to Texas and south to Miami-Dade county, Florida.

Ecology

Habitat

Salix caroliniana occurs in creek bottomlands, river banks, cypress swamps, river floodplains, wet coastal hammocks, margin of sawgrass swales, Eichornia bogs, tropical evergreen hardwood forests, border of cypress-gum depression in wet flatwoods, shallow water of a slow moving tributary of a river, marsh edges, mesic pinewoods, wet sloughs, and mesic hardwood swamps. It has also occurred in disturbed areas such as a willow thicket in a broad drainage area between the highway and a railway, roadside canals, swampy edges of an orange grove, waste areas, and powerline corridors. Soil types include loamy soil, sandy silt, loam, and loamy sand.

Associated species include Persea, Salix nigra, Equisetum hymale, Saururus cernuus, Rumex verticillatus, R. hastatulus, Tradescantia ohiensis, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Commelina diffusa, Carex longii, Parietaria floridana, Ludwigia peruviana, Eleocharis geniculata, Carpinus caroliniana, Nyssa sylvatica, and Nyssa aquatica.

In wetland areas of human influence that have altered marsh nutrients, hydrology, and fire intervals, the native Carolina willow can be an invasive species. Expansion of this species has transformed herbaceous marshes, wet prairies, and sloughs into nearly monospecific willow shrub swamps. Traits such as sexual and vegetative reproduction and quickly germinating seeds allows for rapid colonization in disturbed wetlands.

Phenology

S. caroliniana has been observed to flower and fruit January through August with peak inflorescence in March. This is a dioecious species with the yellow male flowers arranged in catkins while female individuals have a cluster of small fruit with white plume-like hairs.

Seed dispersal

Seeds are dispersed by wind and running water.

Seed bank and germination

Seeds do not exhibit dormancy and germinate rapidly. The seeds have short viability and germination is very sensitive to drought and flooding.

Fire ecology

Lee et al. (2005) found that the initial response of S. caroliniana to fire was prolific resprouting with the stem density returning to pre-fire levels by the second year post fire. Dormant season fires are effective in reducing cover and basal areas. Repeated fires are more effective than a single fire.

Pollination

Various Hymenoptera species were observed visiting flowers of Salix caroliniana at the Archbold Biological Station. These include bees from the Apidae family such as Apis mellifera, plasterer bees from the Colletidae family such as Colletes brimleyi and Hylaeus confluens, sweat bees from the Halictidae family such as Lasioglossum lepidii, L. pectoralis, L. placidensis and L. puteulanum, wasps from the Leucospididae family such as Leucospis affinis, thread-waisted wasps from the Sphecidae family such as Ectemnius decemmaculatus tequesta, and wasps from the Vespidae family such as Parancistrocerus perennis anacardivora, Polistes fuscatus, Stenodynerus histrionalis rufustus, Vespula squamosa and Zethus slossonae.

Herbivory and toxicology

This species has be observed to host leafhoppers such as Idiocerus sp. (family Cicadellidae). S. caroliniana is the only larval host plant for viceroy (Limenitis archippus) butterflies and Automeris io moths.

Ducks and water birds eat the catkins and leaves, twigs and leaves are consumed by deer, and shoots and buds are eaten by rodents including muskrats and beavers as well as cottontail rabbits.

Conservation, cultivation, and restoration

In wetland areas that have altered hydrology, nutrients and fire suppression, S. caroliniana can invasively spread creating nearly monospecific willow shrub swamps. Hydrological manipulations can aide in controlling the establishment and early growth of S. caroliniana. Seeds have short viability and germination is sensitive to drought and flooding, therefore timely desiccation and flooding can control willows by killing seedlings and reducing growth of cuttings. Ponzio et al. (2006) found that under dry conditions followed by flooding, roller-chopping can be an effective method of willow control. Lee et al. (2005) states that dormant season fires are effective in reducing S. caroliniana cover and basal area and repeated fires have greater effects than a single fire.

Cultural use

The stems of S. caroliniana have been used for basketry, fences and furniture. The sap contains salicylic acid, which is a natural ingredient of aspirin.

References and notes

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: November 2015. Collectors: J. Richard Abbott, Harry E. Ahles, Loran C. Anderson, L. Baltzell, A.S. Barclay, Tom Barnes, L.J. Brass, Dana Bryan, Nancy Coile, Kathy Craddock Burks, Delzie Demaree, R.F. Doren, J.A. Duke, Donna Marie Eggers, Patricia Elliott, E.S. Ford, Angus Gholson, Robert K. Godfrey, James W. Hardin, Robert R. Haynes, Mary C. Helms, R.D. Houk, S.B. Jones, Walter S. Judd, H. Kurz, Robert Kral, O. Lakela, Alex Lasseigne, Robert J. Lemaire, S.W. Leonard, Elbert L. Little Jr., Richard S. Mitchell, T. Myint, J.B. Nelson, Hugh O’Neill, R.A. Norris, Elmer C. Prichard, J.T. Powell, P.L. Redfearn Jr., A.J. Sharp, Cecil R. Slaughter, R.R. Smith, Edward E. Terrell, D.B. Ward, Christine Wilton. States and Counties: Alabama: Crenshaw, Perry.Arkansas: Searcy, Saline, Van Buren. Florida: Bay, Dade, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Glades, Gulf, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Orange, Pinellas, Putnam, Santa Rosa, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton. Georgia: Bulloch, Camden, Decatur, McIntosh, Seminole. Missouri: Douglas, Greene, Iron, Stone, Taney. North Carolina: Beaufort, Craven, Hyde, Iredell, Perquimans, Pitt. South Carolina: Colleton. Tennessee: Dickson, Lewis. West Virginia: Raleigh. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.