Barrens willow facts for kids

The Salix jejuna, also known as the barrens willow, is a super tiny type of willow plant. It's very rare and only grows in a small area about 30 kilometers long! This special willow lives along the coast of the Strait of Belle Isle on the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland.

Meet the Barrens Willow

The barrens willow is a unique plant. It was first discovered in Labrador in 1923 by a scientist named Archibald Gowanlock Huntsman. Later, in 1925, other scientists like Merritt Lyndon Fernald found it too.

Where Does It Live?

This willow only grows in very specific places called limestone barrens. These are rocky areas where thin soil covers lots of cracked limestone. The barrens willow finds tiny cracks in the limestone to grow its roots.

What Makes It Special?

The barrens willow has small, round leaves. These leaves grow very close to its stems. The plant itself grows in a unique way. It forms flat, twiggy mats that spread out over the ground. These mats can grow up to 30 centimeters wide in just a couple of years!

It starts to flower in late June and continues until mid-July. Because it grows so low to the ground and spreads out, it can use the sun's heat that warms the soil. This helps it survive in tough places. It can handle strong winds, ice carried by the wind, and even soil that moves around due to frost heaving. Like all willows, it is a pioneer species. This means it is one of the first plants to grow in new or disturbed areas.

Why Is It Endangered?

Sadly, Salix jejuna is considered critically endangered. This means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.

In 2001, a group called the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) looked at the barrens willow. They decided it was an endangered species. Because of this, it is now protected by two important laws: the Newfoundland and Labrador Endangered Species Act and the Canadian federal Species at Risk Act. These laws help protect the barrens willow and its habitat.