Taxon Report

Salix brachycarpa Nutt. var. brachycarpa

short-fruited willow

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Salix brachycarpa var. brachycarpa, commonly known as short-fruited willow, is a perennial deciduous shrub in the Salicaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Alpine dwarf scrub, Meadows and seeps, and Subalpine coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 3000 to 3500 meters. Salix brachycarpa var. brachycarpa is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Salix brachycarpa Nutt. var. brachycarpa
Common Name:	short-fruited willow
Family:	Salicaceae
Element Code:	PDSAL02531
USDA Plants Symbol:	SABRB7
Synonyms/Other Names:	Salix brachycarpa ssp. brachycarpa

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial deciduous shrub
Blooming Period: Jun-Jul	Jun-Jul
Elevation:	3000-3500 (9845-11485)
General Habitats:	Alpine dwarf scrub, Meadows and seeps, Subalpine coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Carbonate
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.3
Global Rank:	G5T5
State Rank:	S2
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	5
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	3

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Mono (MNO)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Bloody Mtn. (3711858), Convict Lake (3711857), Tioga Pass (3711983)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	2
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	20 %
Grazing	1	20%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	20%

Notes



On watch list in OR.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 1 November 2025].