Green-scaled willow (Salix chlorolepis) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 9

Special Significance of the Species

Serpentine soils alter both the appearance and functioning of plants. These alterations, combined with the isolation characteristic of serpentine habitats, favour the formation of new species. That is why these environments are generally known for their concentration of rare endemics with small ranges. The co-occurrence of serpentine and an “alpine tundra” habitat is relatively rare in northeastern North America and the green-scaled willow is the evolutionary result of this type of environment.

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