Serissima: Answers to key questions in Conifers & Catkin-Bearing Trees and Shrubs of Saskatchewan, Fascicle 5, Flora of Saskatchewan by Anna Leighton leading to this species. The answers are in the order you would normally work through the key. 

	Catkins usually flowering as leaves emerge, sometimes just before leaves emerge or throughout the season, subtended by small green leaves of the flowering branchlet that supports them.  NOT  [Catkins usually flowering before leaves emerge, borne directly on bare branches (sessile) and subtended by 1 - 3 short, greenish or brownish, caducous bract-like leaves]
	Low to tall shrubs or trees; not confined to subarctic regions.  NOT [Dwarf shrubs <= 0.15 m (15 cm) tall; subarctic regions]
	Shrubs, usually with several stems; ovaries glabrous or hairy.   NOT  [Trees, with a single trunk, or with several trunks of tree stature; ovaries glabrous]
	NOT [Plants flowering as leaves emerge or throughout the season, often bearing branched catkins; leaf blades linear or strap-shaped, 9 – 14 – 24 times longer than wide, up to 11 mm wide with margins remotely spinulose-serrulate, the teeth widely spaced; hairs on leaves white, ferruginous hairs lacking; plants forming extensive colonies by root shoots]
	Petioles with glandular dots or lobes at distal end; floral bracts pale tawny, 1.2 – 4 mm, conspicuous during flowering, deciduous after flowering. NOT  [Petioles without glandular dots or lobes at distal end, or with occasional, inconspicuous dots; floral bracts not as above, if conspicuous and pale, then not deciduous.]
	Catkins stout to globose; fruiting catkins firm and retained on branches until late summer to early fall when the seed is shed; leaf blades 43 – 90 mm, upper and lower surfaces glabrous, apices usually acuminate, sometimes caudate or acute; lower surfaces of juvenile leaf blades glabrous; petioles glabrous; stipules on early and late leaves absent or rudimentary. NOT [Catkins slender to stout or subglobose; fruiting catkins not typically retained on branches throughout the summer; leaf blades 55 – 180 mm, upper and lower surfaces glabrous or hairy, apices caudate or acuminate; lower surfaces of juvenile leaf blades glabrous or hairy with white or some ferruginous hairs; petioles glabrous, pilose or villous; stipules on early leaves foliaceous or rudimentary, on late leaves foliaceous, (sometimes early deciduous on Salix lucida but stipules scars should be visible).]

Salix: Answers to key questions in Conifers & Catkin-Bearing Trees and Shrubs of Saskatchewan, Fascicle 5, Flora of Saskatchewan by Anna Leighton leading to this genus. 

	shrubs or trees; NOT [trees]
	buds covered by 1 scale; NOT  [buds covered by 3-10 scales]
	buds scale not resinous; NOT [bud scale usually resinous]
	catkins sessile or terminating flowering branchlets; NOT [catkins sessile]
	catkins erect, spreading, or +/- pendulous; NOT [catkins pendulous]
	floral bracts entire, erose, bifid, or irregularly toothed; NOT [floral bracts deeply cut]
	perianth reduced to an adaxial nectary (rarely also an abaxial nectary, then the 2 nectaries distinct or connate into a shallow cup); NOT [perianth reduced to a non-nectariferous, cup-shaped or shallow saucer-shaped floral disc]
	stamens 1, 2, or 3 – 10; NOT [stamens 6 – 60 (70)]
	capsules obclavate to ovoid or ellipsoid; NOT [capsules narrowly ovoid to spherical, with the floral disc persistent at base]
	capsules 2-valved; NOT [capsules 2 - 4 valved]

Salicaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 

	shrubs or trees; NOT [herbs]
	flowers with only one floral ring, with sepals but not petals
	male flowers, at least, in catkins or aments; NOT [flowers not in catkins or aments]
	seeds each with a tuft of hairs; NOT [seeds without a tuft of hairs]