Willow

Salix

This month we are not focusing on just one species but on Willows more generally, since at this time of year the larger specimens can be readily identified from a distance because their branches have distinctive yellowy orange colour unlike any other common tree and their flowers, known as catkins are some of the first to appear in late winter.

To prevent confusion from different names being used to describe the same plant, a Swedish man called Carl Linnaeus developed a system in the mid 18th. century which gives all plants at least two (Latin-derived) names, in the same way that people have at least one given name as well as a family name.  In the case of plants, the family name is the Genus and is written first, followed by the given name or species.  There is also a tradition that the Genus is written with an initial capital letter but the species is all written in lower case, hence Salix fragilis.

All Willows have the Genus name Salix, and typically produce their flowers on structures commonly called ‘catkins’.  It is believed that the word catkin derives from an old Dutch term for kitten, since they are said to resemble a kitten’s tail.  Each tree produces either all male or all female catkins.  Both sexes flower at the same time and the catkins produce nectar so Willow trees are mostly pollinated by insects

Description
There are thought to be some 20 different species of Willows native to the British Isles, most of which are small shrubby plants but those listed above are among the ones that can grow to tree size.  There are many other introduced Willows to be found thriving here and worldwide there may be more than 350 different species.

Leaf shape, size and colour vary with each species but many of the trees have long, thin (known as lanceolate) leaves which appear just after the catkins.  Willow tree twigs begin to grow from mid to late winter and it is this new growth that shows so colourfully at this time of year, especially on dull days.  The Weeping Willow, which is a cross between the native White and a Chinese species, is also easily recognised because or the overall shape with long, thin drooping branches which extend down to the ground or water when planted next to a river, lake or pond.

Situation
Throughout the New Forest, one or more species of Willow may be found naturally growing on damp ground, near ponds and on stream banks.  Willows, typically Goat Willow, are amongst the first tree species to colonise cleared ground and can be found thriving in otherwise treeless, rough, damp pastures. Since willows readily hybridise, (as a result of cross pollination between species), there are many different varieties which are frequently planted in parks and gardens for their form or twig colour or because they are robust enough to survive in otherwise inhospitable environments.

Willow may be seen in traditional settings next to streams and rivers and more recently may be found as landscape features as a green wall or for the attractive colour of the developing shoots in late winter, with some of the more exotic hybrid varieties having startling crimson, yellow or even black bark.

Most Willow trees grow fast in tree terms and regrow vigorously when cut; some plant growth hormones are derived from Willows.  As a result of this rapid growth rate, they can extract large amounts of water from the soil in a short period and are sometimes associated with building foundation damage if grown too close to buildings with shallow foundations.

Season/Life cycle:

Uses
Willows have been used since ancient times for a multitude of medicinal and practical uses including,  the extraction of Salicylic acid which is the basis of the drug aspirin and which occurs naturally in Willow; the reinforcement of riverbanks by their roots; basket-making; bio fuel since some species grow fast that they produce a lot of combustible material in a short time. And of course, the best cricket bats are made from the Cricket Bat Willow – (Salix alba var. caerulea),