Planifolia: 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 before leaves emerge, borne directly on bare branches (sessile) and subtended by 1 - 3 short, greenish or brownish, caducous bract-like leaves. NOT [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.]
	Ovaries hairy.  NOT [Ovaries glabrous.]
	Ovaries short- or long-silky; stipes 0.2 – 2.7 mm; plants less hairy; not restricted to the south short of Lake Athabasca.  NOT [Ovaries villous; stipes 0 - 0.3 mm; plants densely hairy; south shore of Lake Athabasca.]
	Stipes short  (0.2 – 1.1 mm), styles long (0.5 – 2 mm); capsules 3 – 7 mm.  NOT [Stipes long (0.8 – 2.7 mm), styles short (0.2 – 1 mm); capsules 4.5 – 11 mm.]
	Emerging leaves with lower surfaces sparsely hairy, the blades wider, and margins flat; branches flexible at base, rarely strongly glaucous.  NOT [Emerging leaves with lower surfaces uniformly densely hairy, the blades narrowly strap-shaped or narrowly oblanceolate, and margins usually revolute; branches highly to somewhat brittle at base, sometimes strongly glaucous.]

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]