Shining Willow is a small to medium-sized, sprawling shrub with lustrous, dark green leaves that give it its name.
Leaves are Shining Willow’s distinguishing characteristic:
- often leathery;
- elliptic or ovate-lanceolate with a long pointed apex;
- fine-toothed;
- dark green and glossy on top and paler underneath;
- usually hairless;
- often large glands near the leaf base; and
- stipules on new growth that may persist.
One of the best locations to view many, mature Shining Willows is Alvin Runnalls Forest near Morewood.
Here are selected photographs with location coordinates in iNaturalist:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4856471 – Leaves and shrub in Larose Forest.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/8704120 – Leaves and shrub in the Carp Hills.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10337325 – Shrub growing in Gatineau Park.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/10363804 – Leaves and twigs near Alexandria.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33538911 – Shrub growing on the beach at Petrie Island.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49649559 – Shrub with flowers at Alvin Runnalls Forest.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49179350 – Shrub with flowers at Alvin Runnalls Forest.
