Salix caprea
Goat Willow
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Salix genus in the family Salicaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Salicaceae
- Genus
- Salix
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 10 m
- Spread
- 8 m
- Fertility
- Self sterile, Bees
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Inner bark - raw or cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and then added to cereal flour for use in making bread etc. A very bitter flavour, it is a famine food that is only used when all else fails[5]. Young shoots - raw or cooked. They are not very palatable[5]. The source of an edible manna[6]. No further details.
- Plant part
- Inner bark
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Sap
- Product or use
- Manna
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[12], which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[10]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[12]. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of fevers[13]. A distilled water from the flowers is aphrodisiac, cordial and stimulant[13]. It is used externally in the treatment of headaches and ophthalmia[13]. The ashes of the wood are useful in the treatment of haemoptysis[13]. The stems and the leaves are astringent[13]. A gum and the juice of the trees are used to increase visual powers[13].
- Product or use
- Anodyne
- Product or use
- Aphrodisiac
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Ophthalmic
- Product or use
- Stimulant
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The stems are very flexible and are used in basket making[15]. The plant is usually coppiced annually when grown for basket making, though it is possible to coppice it every two years if thick poles are required as uprights. The bark is tough and flexible, it is used as a substitute for leather[3]. The bark contains around 10% tannin[11]. The plant is fast growing and tolerant of maritime exposure, it can be used as a windbreak hedge and shelterbelt though it is of untidy habit[16]. 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]. Some cultivars can be grown as ground cover[9]. 'Pendula' is female whilst 'Kilmarnock' is a male, they should be spaced about 1.5 metres apart each way[9]. Wood - soft, elastic, easily split. Used for baskets, rugs etc[14][15]. A good quality charcoal is made from the wood[14][15].
- Product or use
- Basketry
- Product or use
- Charcoal
- Product or use
- Leather
- Product or use
- Tannin
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy, Secondary canopy, Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to Spain, temperate Asia and Syria.
- Habitat
- Woods, scrub and hedges, usually on basic soils, to 840 metres[4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- 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. Cuttings of this species do not root well[8]. Plant into their permanent positions in the autumn. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, June to August in a frame. Cuttings of this species do not root well[8].
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], but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position. Grows in drier soils than any other British species of Salix[7]. Rarely thrives on chalk[8]. Plants are found most frequently on basic soils in the wild[4]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution and exposed positions, including maritime exposure[16][7]. A fast growing tree, it establishes well[16]. The tree has an untidy habit[16]. A light demanding tree, it becomes tall and drawn when grown in woodland, though it grows well along the sunnier edges[7]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[8]. 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]. Trees are very tolerant of cutting, they coppice well[7]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[8]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. 1946-00-00
Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984-00-00