Ecology and habitat. A low shrub of protected habitats. Typically growing on sand and cobbles among granitic boulders, on sandy alluvium, or on exposed eskers. Sometimes on scree slopes, in sphagnum bogs, empetrum heaths, or in snow beds. Salix glauca var.
Floral bracts are pale or dark brown and the ovaries are densely hairy.
The taxonomy of S. glauca in the Arctic Islands and on Greenland has been confusing. A smooth one corresponding to S. cordifolia var. callicarpaea and an hirsute one corresponding to S. cordifolia var. intonsa . In 1965 Argus wrote, 'This hybrid is characterized by various combinations of the characteristics of S. arctica and S . The S . Specimens identified as hybrids combine these characters in various ways.