Key based on vegetative characters

1	Branchlets glabrous, brown or purplish brown, shiny; leaves often clustered at apex of branchlets		175 Salix resecta
+	Branchlets pilose at least distally, ± dull; leaves not clustered at apex of branchlets.		(2)
2 (1)	Leaf blade lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate.		(3)
+	Leaf blade usually rather broad, not lanceolate.		(4)
3 (2)	Leaf blade ovate-lanceolate		173 Salix hupehensis
+	Leaf blade lanceolate to oblanceolate, rarely broadly lanceolate		174 Salix wolohoensis
4 (2)	Leaf blade with rust-colored hairs along veins or on petiole abaxially		168 Salix inamoena
+	Leaf blade without rust-colored hairs.		(5)
5 (4)	Mature leaves whitish, pruinose, or glaucous abaxially.		(6)
+	Mature leaves greenish or pinkish green abaxially.		(7)
6 (5)	Branchlets reddish chestnut colored or yellowish; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate to elliptic, abaxially downy at least along veins, base obtuse-rounded, apex obtuse or rounded		171 Salix erioclada
+	Branchlets blackish brown; leaf blade elliptic or elliptic-oblong, glabrous on both surfaces, base cuneate to subrounded, apex acute or shortly acuminate		172 Salix dibapha
7 (5)	Leaves abaxially tomentose or downy		170 Salix driophila
+	Leaves abaxially glabrous or subglabrous, pilose along veins		169 Salix amphibola