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Willows Most Widespread?

13 years ago

We got side tracked on another thread when I mentioned that Willows were the most widespread tree on the planet. My old Dendrology teacher claimed that Willows were "the most widespread tree". Dan questioned the fact.

I meant geographically, not the most common. I tried to confirm what the good Prof. led me to believe but have drawn a Goose egg so far. I have to get to work now instead of getting side tracked.

I know this is a silly subject but can anyone confirm or dispute what I thought I knew?

Thanks.

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Comments (11)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
could he have meant the widest spread of the canopy????

ken
salicaceae
13 years ago
You are indeed correct. No other genus of trees can be found over such a wide geographical range. Salix occurs from 83 degrees North to deep into South America (Salix chilensis) and the cape of South Africa (Salix mucronata, S. capensis, S. woodii etc.). Over much of their range in arctic Canada and Asia they are the only "woody" plant. There are truly tropical (even evergreen) species and totally Arctic and Alpine species.
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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
13 years ago
And there you have it!

Josh
brandon7 TN_zone7
13 years ago
I wouldn't be surprised if the claim (properly restated) was correct (and it probably is). In the previously mentioned thread, we were talking about varying conditions. When "wider natural range" was brought up in the context of conditions, I naturally assumed we were talking range of conditions. After Dan brought up the ambiguous nature of the statement, it makes more sense and seems much more likely to be accurate. Now we've just got to figure out the peanut butter claim.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
13 years ago
Peanut butter is equally yummy across all areas of the Salix range, hell-looooo!

;o)

Dan
ghostlyvision
13 years ago
"Peanut butter is equally yummy across all areas of the Salix range, hell-looooo!"

And wide-spread, too! :p
Embothrium
13 years ago
Willows may grow over that wide of an area but most of them at high altitudes and latitudes will be creeping and otherwise low shrubs rather than trees.
sluice
13 years ago
I went to the UC Boulder herbarium once to check out their willow collection. They've got a lot of willows there.

The curator told me an easy way to identify willows, which I found quite useful.

"Sedges have edges, rushes are round, grasses have nodes, and willows abound."
famartin
13 years ago
Willows, Junipers and Sagebrush are the about the only native woody plants where I live. Of course, the willows here are only bushes.
IpmMan
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for all the replies. I will be careful in the future in how I state this fact. And I still hate Peanut Butter yuck.
pineresin
13 years ago
Agree with Bboy - I wonder if the fact really applies if one only counts willows that reach tree size and stature (6m or more tall, on a single trunk). Even with 6+m willows, quite a few are going to fail on the single trunk definition. I'd not be surprised if pines or oaks give them a good run for their money.

Resin

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