White willow

White Willow (Salix alba) is a species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia. The name derives from the white tone to the undersides of the leaves. It is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree growing up to 10–30 m tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter and an irregular, often-leaning crown.

Description

The bark of the white willow is grey-brown and deeply furrowed in older trees. The shoots in the typical species are grey-brown to green-brown. The leaves are paler than most other willows, due to a covering of very fine, silky white hairs, in particular on the underside.

Uses

White willow is a traditional source of willow bark, used for its content of salicin, a compound similar to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). It has been used for its analgesic and antipyretic properties in traditional medicine for centuries. The bark is often harvested in the spring or early summer, as the salicin content is highest at this time.

Cultivation

White willow is grown both for its ornamental value, due to its graceful shape and silvery foliage, and for its timber. It is also often planted for soil erosion control, particularly along streambanks.

Ecology

White willow is a food plant for the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, and a source of nectar for bees. It is also a host plant for several species of willow gall insects.

See also

• List of Salix species
• Willow
• Salicin