Linnaeus named this genus in 1753.  "Salix" is the classical Latin name.

Click for Salix nivalis in fall color.

Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Lizard Head Trail, July 6, 2005.

Salix nivalis is even tinier than Salix petrophila, seldomly towering more than an inch above the ground.  Buried in grasses of Alpine Tundra, it is, at first, a challenge to find, but one quickly learns its habitat and then it is easily and commonly found.  Salix nivalis is dioecious; male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. The photograph shows a plant with male flowers.

"Nivalis" is Latin for "snow" or "of the snow".

Salix nivalis.  Synonym: Salix reticulata.  (Snow Willow)
Salicaceae (Willow Family)

Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Columbus Basin, June 22, 2010 and Sharkstooth Trail, June 28, 2007.

Male flowers are shown in the top two photographs at left and female in the bottom. 

Although Salix nivalis leaves are typically glabrous (smooth, without hairs), most leaves of the young male plants shown are hairy on the top, bottom, and edges.

Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Sharkstooth Trail, July 7, 2004 and Lake Hope Trail, August 11, 2009.

The pronounced reticulated pattern in the leaves, the more rounded leaf tips, and the shorter stature distinguish this miniature Willow from Salix petrophila shown below.

The mature flowers of the female S. nivalis are on the left and the male on the right in the top photographs.  The bottom photograph shows the gall that is common on this Salix.

Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Lizard Head Trail, July 6, 2005.

This miniature Willow can cover large areas above tree line with sparkling pink flowers and relatively large, pointed-tip leaves.  In this picture the female flowers have matured and the seeds are maturing.  Thick, twisted, woody stems wind along the ground below the leaves.

Salix petrophila can grow to eight inches tall, but it is most commonly just two or three inches tall, so although it covers large areas of tundra, it is hardly ever noticed. 

Notice that the photograph shows different leaf shapes and different venation patterns in these leaves.  The leaves of S. petrophila occupy most of the photograph, but in the lower right are the leaves of S. nivalis, discussed above.

"Petrophila" is Greek for "rock loving".

Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Lizard Head Trail, July 2, 2004.

Red maturing female flowers of Salix petrophila show behind the dark green leaves.

Alpine. Tundra. Summer.
Black Bear Pass Road, July 20, 2008.

Catkins explode in a mass of fluff to carry seeds.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Salix nivalis

Range map for Salix petrophila