''Salix lapponum'', the downy willow, is a low, much-branched shrub having a wide distribution in Northern Europe, eastwards to the Altai and western

Siberia Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive geographical region, constituting all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been a part ...

, and is found as far south as the

Pyrenees The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to ...

and

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...

. In

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, UK, it can be found on rocky mountain slopes and cliffs, generally at altitudes of .Willows and Poplars of Great Britain and Ireland, BSBI Handbook No. 4; Meikle; 1984. It grows to a height of . As described in Stace''New Flora of the British Isles'';

Clive Stace Clive Anthony Stace (born 1938) is a British botanist and botanical author. He studied at King's College London, graduated from University of London in 1959 and then studied at the Natural History Museum, London. He was awarded a PhD in 1963 ...

; Third edition; 2011 printing. and BSBI ''Salix lapponum'' has the following characteristics: * Twigs hairy at first, hairless and rather glossy dark reddish brown later. * Leaves usually lanceolate to 7 cm long by 2.5 cm wide; slightly hairy to hairy on upper side; usually densely hairy on lower side; margins entire or subentire, sometimes a little undulate. * Petiole short, occasionally up to 1 cm long but usually less than 5mm. Salix lapponum Leaf upper side.JPG, Upper surface of leaf Salix lapponum Leaf under side.JPG, Lower surface of leaf Salix lapponum Twig.JPG, View showing twig and leaf petioles

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1348662 lapponum Flora of Asia Flora of Europe Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus