Salix nigra

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Salicaceae

Genus

Salix

Life cycle

perennial

Foliage

deciduous

Woodiness

woody

Growth rate

vigorous

Height

12 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^[7]. Young shoots - raw or cooked. They are not very palatable^[7].

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 bark is anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiperiodic, antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, sedative, tonic^{[18][22][24][10][5]}. It has been used in the treatment of gonorrhoea, ovarian pains and nocturnal emissions^[18]. The bark of this species is used interchangeably with S. alba. It is taken internally in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache^[15]. The bark can be used as a poultice on cuts, wounds, sprains, bruises, swellings etc^[16]. The bark is removed during the summer and dried for later use^[15]. The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and colic^[15]. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried^[15]. The fresh bark contains salicin, which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body^[11]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge^[11] and as an ingredient of spring tonics^[14].

Material uses

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

The young stems are very flexible and are used in basket and furniture making^[6][14]. The twigs can be split in half lengthways, sun-dried and used as the foundation of coiled basketry^[16]. 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. A fibre obtained from the stems is used in making paper^[8]. The stems are harvested in spring or summer, the leaves are removed and the stems steamed until the fibres can be stripped. The fibres are cooked for 2 hours with lye and then beaten with mallets or put through a blender. The paper is red/brown in colour^[8]. The trees are often used in erosion control, their roots forming dense networks that stabilize stream banks^[14]. The bark is a good source of tannin^[20][13]. A decoction or infusion of the bark can be used as a hair wash to make the hair grow^[16]. Wood - not durable, light, soft and weak but does not splinter, warp or check^[23][4]. The wood is tough and fairly strong according to another report^[6]. It weighs 27lb per cubic foot^[13]. Used where strength is not important, for artificial limbs, barn floors etc^[23][3][4]. A good charcoal is also obtained from the wood^[21].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche

Canopy

Environment

Range

Eastern N. America - Maine to Minnesota, south to Texas.

Habitat

Found in a wide variety of soils^[14], so long as they are wet^[13], by streamsides, shores and rich low woods^[19].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

high

Hardiness

Zone 4+

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.

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^[9]. Rarely thrives on chalk^[9]. A fast-growing but relatively short-lived species, it can reach 15 metres tall within 10 years from seed in the wild^[14]. Twigs tend to break off easily in storms, these will then often root and grow into new trees^[12]. A good bee plant, providing an early source of nectar^[2]. Trees are impatient of root disturbance and should be moved regularly before being planted in their permanent positions, which is best done whilst the plants are young^[2]. The root system is rather aggressive and can cause problems with drains^[9]. Plants should not be grown within 10 metres of buildings. Closely related to Salix caroliniana, hybridising with that species where their ranges overlap^[17]. This species is also likely to hybridize freely with other members of this genus^[9]. 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]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus^[9]. Seedlings are very fast-growing, they can reach 1.2 metres tall in their first year^[2]. Plants are used commercially for papermaking^[8]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Related plants

• Salix 'Americana'
• Salix 'Bowles hybrid'
• Salix 'Forbiana'
• Salix acutifoliaSharp-Leaf Willow

References

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

   ↩

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

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

3. ? Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th edition.

   ↩

4. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

   ↩1↩2

5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

   ↩

6. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

   ↩1↩2

7. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

   ↩1↩2

8. Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press 1988-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3

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

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

10. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

13. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2↩3

14. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

15. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

16. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

17. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    • Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
    ↩

18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

19. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

20. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

21. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

22. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩

23. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

24. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩