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Photo by walterfertig; alyssa342
Walter Fertig; Alyssa Rawinski
Arizona willow
Salix arizonica
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G2G3
State (S-rank): S2?
External links
Species range
Estimate from download of data from Utah Rare Plant Database on November, 10 2024.
Geocat 188 observations: Extent of Occurrence: 11,285.625 km2. *Without the Boulder material the extent is 8,208.628
Riparian communities at 2550 to 3240 (3350) m, on the Wasatch, Paunsaugunt, Fish Lake, and Markagunt plateaus, in Garfield, Iron, Sanpete, and Sevier counties, Utah as well as Arizona and New Mexico (Welsh et al. 2015).
The locations of Arizona willow on Boulder Mountain are suspect. These were considered to be hybrids with Booth’s Willow by the Interagency Rare Plant Team (Deb Clark and others). I have many of these collections in the Dixie NF herbarium. I believe that these are more closely allied with Booth’s willow than Arizona willow. I do not recognize these locations on Boulder Mountain (Escalante and Teasdale Ranger Districts) as being Arizona willow. On the Dixie NF rare plant list, I do not include Arizona willow as having presence on these two Districts as a result. I just thought that I would let you know my thoughts on your map. The Arizona Willow on the East Fork of the Sevier River (Powell Ranger District) and the Markagunt Plateau (Cedar City Ranger Districts) are truly Arizona willow (Personal communication: Mark Madsen 17Dec2020).
Threats or limiting factors
Browsing by domestic and wild ungulates (primarily elk and cattle) is a primary threat to this species. Nearly all occurrences on public lands are part of active sheep or cattle grazing allotments. Although this species evolved with native herbivores, the effect of domestic livestock in combination with increasing pressure from wildlife may be beyond its tolerance (Lencioni et al. 2024, Decker 2006). Several studies have shown that growth and reproduction is significantly impacted by browsing animals (Lencioni et al. 2024, 2001 cited by Maschinski no date). Overgrazing also degrades the habitat (soil compaction, wetland channeling) and introduces non-native vegetation (Mygatt 1999). Because numbers of cattle and elk are very high in New Mexico and Arizona, the populations there may be threatened by them to the greatest extent (Maschinski no date). Hydrologic alteration (e.g. from diversions and impoundments or elimination of beaver populations) is also a primary threat. Other threats include impacts from timber harvesting (not sure this is a threat in Utah), road construction and maintenance, impacts from recreational use (e.g. off-road vehicles), development and maintenance of ski resort facilities, disease (particularly infection by fungal rust belonging to the species complex Melampsora epitea), and climate change (Mygatt 1999, AGFD 2002, Decker 2006, Maschinski no date). Many of these threats are synergistic; for example, stressed habitat conditions tend to promote rust outbreaks (Arizona Rare Plant Committee 2001).
