Practical
Plants

Salix aurita

Eared Sallow

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Salix genus in the family Salicaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Salix
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
2.5 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fresh bark of all members of this genus contains salicin[7], which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[6]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[7].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Febrifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants have an extensive root system and are used to stabilize waste tips and old slag heaps[4]. The seeds are very light and so can travel some distance in the wind. The plant is therefore able to find its way to areas such as cleared woodland where the soil has been disturbed. Seedlings will grow away quickly, even in exposed conditions and the plant will provide good shelter for the establishment of woodland plants. Thus it makes a good pioneer species and, except in wetter and moorland-type soils, will eventually be largely out-competed by the other woodland trees. Its main disadvantage as a pioneer plant is that it has an extensive root system and is quite a greedy plant, thus it will not help as much in enriching the soil for the other woodland plants as other pioneer species such as the alders, Alnus species[K].

Product or use
Basketry

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to Portugal, Black Sea, Crimea and Macedonia.
Habitat
Damp woods, heaths, rocks by streams and on moors etc, on light acid or slightly basic soils, to 780 metres[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - must be surface sown as soon as it is ripe in late spring. It has a very short viability, perhaps as little as a few days. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, November to February in a sheltered outdoor bed or planted straight into their permanent position and given a good weed-suppressing mulch. Plant into their permanent positions in the autumn. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, June to August in a frame.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils, including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils[1][2], but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position[5]. Rarely thrives on chalk[5]. Thriving in the most adverse conditions, it is a useful plant for populating dry barren sites[4]. Closely related to S. caprea and S. cinerea[2]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[5]. Although the flowers are produced in catkins early in the year, they are pollinated by bees and other insects rather than by the wind[2]. When inhaled near to, a scent of white jasmine can be discerned from the flowers[8]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[5]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  4. Newsholme. C. Willows - The Genus Salix. Batsford 1992-00-00 ISBN 0713468815

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩

  7. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩1↩2

  8. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

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