Tree of the month....The Willow

[sean]

As the title suggests this thread is intended to focus on one tree a month. It will hopefully be a celebration of our Native Trees in order to aid us all in learning as much as possible about them.

 

Our experiences working with them, fungal associations, pests and diseases, photographs, myths, legends and their place in the arts and culture. As said before a celebration and learning resource.

 

I thought we could use the Celtic Tree Ogham calendar as a starter whose origins lie with the Celtic tribes who migrated to Britain around 700 – 500bc. Trees were venerated by the ancients for their many gifts which were a mainstay of peoples lifestyles. Everybody was born under a particular tree (the same as our own zodiac sign).

Hopefully this thread will work and we can collate all sorts of useful and interesting information about our native trees. I hope there are a few of you who feel the same.

 

This months tree covering the dates 15th April to 12th May is The Willow (Salix Spp)

 

Please feel free to add to previous Months.....Birch, Ash and Alder.

[sean]

Willows at Richmond Park

[chris cnc]

i think willow is probably my favourite tree

[treemeup]

[David Humphries]

The Willow Bracket - Phellinus ignarius

 

A perennial parasitic white rotter.

 

 

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[David Humphries]

Nice catch on the Monarchs, Treemeup

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[sean]

As to the scientific name Salix, we are told, in Thomas Newton's "Herball for the Bible" (1587), that--

"The Willow is called Salix, and hath his name a saliendo, for that it quicklie groweth up, and soon becommeth a tree. Herewith do they in some countres trim up their parlours and dining roomes in sommer, and sticke fresh greene leaves thereof about their beds for coolness."

Though this etymology "from leaping" may be doubtful, even with the analogous case of our own word "quick" applied to the Hawthorn, there can be little doubt that the old English name "Sallow" is a corruption from the Latin, whilst the other two names, Willow and Withy, both probably refer to the flexibility of the young branches.

[David oakman]

Here are a couple of willows from Flatford in Sufffolk:001_smile:

[greenmanconservation]

Great trees - here's a wizard's chair made from an old willow pollard head we had to remove last November - in case the tenacity of willow was doubted, it is sprouting new leaf from the bottom left - might try a cutting to ensure he lives on

[rapidlee]

White Willow (Salix alba [Latin]), also known as weeping willow, and Salicin willow, has been renowned for its pain- and inflammation-relieving abilities for thousands of years. The bark of the white willow tree contains salicin, an analgesic compound from which from which salicylic acid and later acetylsalicylic acid (otherwise known as aspirin) were derived. Today, herbalists recommend white willow bark for headache, fever, arthritis, and other disorders characterized by pain and inflammation, including heart disease.

 

White willow contains the same salicylates used in aspirin, but in a less concentrated form. Although aspirin works faster, white willow may be a better choice for those who get stomachaches from aspirin or who are treating chronic pain conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

 

Low dose aspirin are now recommended to prevent heart attack. Aspirin thins the blood, which can help prevent blood clots that cause heart attack and stroke. Drinking willow bark tea may have the same effect, without increasing the risk of stomach bleeding and ulcers. White willow can also suppress inflammation and uterine cramping caused by prostaglandins.

 

Like aspirin, white willow may help reduce the risk of stomach and colon cancer. In one study it was also shown to help reduce blood sugar.