Salix obscura Andersson

Similar to Salix myrtillacea but branchlets pubescent; leaf blade sericeous-pubescent and slightly shiny at least abaxially; ovary smaller. Similar also to S. rehderiana but female catkin sessile; bracts black, nearly as long as ovary; style shorter, only 1/2-2/3 as long as ovary.

Shrubs to 2 m tall. Branchlets at first pubescent, glabrescent, dirty grayish black. Buds reddish chestnut colored, ovoid, pilose, slightly shiny, apex slightly obtuse. Petiole short; leaf blade narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblong, 3-4 × 1-1.5 cm in juvenile fruit, abaxially nearly bluish gray, silky pubescent, slightly shiny, adaxially dull green, sometimes silky pubescent, base cuneate, margin entire, apex acute; lateral veins 10-12 on each side of midvein. Flowering coetaneous. Male catkin unknown. Female catkin shortly terete, ca. 2.5 × 1 cm, sessile, without leaflets; bracts black, lanceolate, ca. as long as ovary, both surfaces villous, apex acute or slightly obtuse. Female flower: gland green, terete, ca. 1/2 as long as ovary, apex purplish red; ovary ovoid or narrowly ovoid, tomentose, sessile; style ca. 1/2-2/3 as long as ovary; stigma short, 2-cleft. Capsule pilose, sessile. Fl. May, fr. Jun.

Himalaya (Nepal to Bhutan).

S Xizang (Yadong Xian, Zayü Xian) [Bhutan, Sikkim]

2400-3600 m

Mountain slopes, along streams; circa 3000 m.