Question: Recently I've noticed a lot of small shrubby willows in one of our wetlands, the largest specimens are about 7-9 …
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Question
Recently I've noticed a lot of small shrubby willows in one of our wetlands, the largest specimens are about 7-9 feet tall with light grayish-green smooth bark with ridges beneath the bark. Their twig color is mainly red, but many others have yellow or even gray twigs, small fine hairs are present on the twigs. The few dried up leaves I've found are between half and an inch and a half long with sparse fine teeth on the smaller leaves. The oldest these trees can be is nine years. Northwest CT
Answer
Dear JoshuaH, unfortunately, I would not be able to assist you with just the images of branchlets and winter buds (some willows can be identified using these features, but I would want to be in the field examining the willows). Given that you are in a wetland, this may be Salix discolor--but you should have flowers emerging very soon. When you do, if you can send me another couple of images of the flowers and measure the length of the aments (i.e., catkins), I may be able to assist you with more confidence.
