Woolly willow

Description:

The woolly willow is a subarctic species of willow which can be found in Iceland, the Faeroes, northern Scandinavia, Finland, through to eastern Siberia, and parts of Scotland. It is a low, multi-branched, deciduous shrub, and common sighting in Iceland where it can be found in heath both in lowlands and the highlands.

Habitat:

Heather and birch woodland, Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Birch woodland. The habitat for this plant can be seen in the last shot on this spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/341...

Notes:

The woolly willow can be difficult to tell apart from the blue willow (Salix glauca ssp. callicarpaea). In spring, the different colored inflorescenses and the woolly top parts of the leaves are characteristic of the woolly willow.