GLAND or WESTERN BLACK WILLOW.
(Salix lasiandra)

This species of willow is found at elevations between 2000 and 4000 feet along streams and water courses. It is often no more than a bushy shrub but when found as a tree it is from 10-30 feet tall and from 3-10 inches in diameter. The leaves are a deep yellow green, with short petioles and with margins having small rounded teeth, lanceolate in outline, taper pointed, 4-5 inches long, shiny on the upper surface and "powdery-white" appearing below. The mid-vein of each leaf is prominent and yellow, and on old trunks the bark of the tree is longitudinally furrowed at the base. It ranges from British Columbia on the north, south along the coast region of Washington, Oregon, and northern California.

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MACKENZIE WILLOW.
(Salix mackenziana)

A rather rare species in Mt. Rainier National Park that will occasionally be found between 4000 and 6000 feet, usually as a small to medium sized shrub. Plants of tree stature occasionally occur however - these varying in size from 10-15 feet tall and 2-4 inches in diameter. The leaves are lanceolate in outline, 1-3 inches long and yellow green in color with margins finely toothed and "powdery-white" appearing on the underside.

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WHITE WILLOW.
(Salix lasiolipis)

This species is found from 2000 to 5000 feet, usually as a shrub but occasionally as a small tree 10-15 feet tall and 2-4 inches in diameter. The bark is smooth and ash grey in color. The leaves are 2-5 inches long, widest above the middle, not toothed on the margins, rather thick and leathery in texture, dark yellow-green above and silvery-white beneath, with the midveins, and sometimes the entire underside, slightly hairy.

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BLACK WILLOW.
(Salix scouleriana)

This species is occasionally noted between 2000 and 5000 feet as a small tree 10-20 feet tall and 2-5 inches in diameter, although it occurs most often as a shrub. The foliage is very variable in form and appearance but the leaves are generally oblanceolate, from 1-4 inches long, with toothed margins, dark green above and slightly hairy on the underside.

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SITKA WILLOW.
(Salix sitchensis)

This is the most common of the willows which are native to Mount Rainier National Park. It is quite abundant between 2000 and 4000 feet along streams, water courses and about swampy locations. At the upper portions of its range it is more generally a shrub but at the lower elevations it will be found to attain tree stature, being from 10-25 feet tall and from 3-6 inches in diameter. The leaves are spatulate in outline, the margins not toothed, 2-4 inches long, and densely white silky woolly on the underside, and deep yellow-green and shiny on the upper surface.

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Descriptions continued...