Question: I have been trying to figure out this plant. It is a shrub located about 10-15ft from a pond in …
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Question
I have been trying to figure out this plant. It is a shrub located about 10-15ft from a pond in Simsbury Ct, at Stratton Brook State Park. The plant is about 7ft tall. The longest leaves average 57mm from tip to base (not including the petiole), and average 20mm wide. The short leaves average 30-35mm in length, and average 20mm wide. The under side of the leaf is grayish and fussy in appearance. The leaf margins are serrated. The buds seem to be scales with hairs on them.
Answer
Dear mjl1982, your plant is a species of willow (genus Salix). There are several details that I cannot see from your photographs that make it impossible for me to tell you which species this is. It could be Salix humilis (prairie willow) or Salix cinerea (gray willow), the former native, the latter non-native. If you want to continue this discussion, feel free to email me at ahaines[at]newenglandwild.org and I can direct you further. Best wishes.
