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Salix alba caerulea
  • Cricket Bat Willow

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

Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Windbreak
    Windbreak
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementshigh
    High
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Heavy clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 2
    Zone 2
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Salix alba caerulea has 0 edible uses listed
Salix alba caerulea has 0 material uses listed
Salix alba caerulea has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Inner bark - raw or cooked. It can be dried, ground and added to cereal flour for use in making bread etc[1]. A very bitter taste[2], it is a famine food that is only used when all else fails[3].

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[1][4]. Not very palatable[3]. They are used only in times of scarcity[5].

The leaves can be used as a tea substitute[6].

Inner bark

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Unknown part

Tea

Material uses

Young stems are very flexible and are used in basket making[7][8][6]. 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 can be used for tying plants[6]. A fibre obtained from the stems is used in making paper[9]. 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[9]. A fast growing tree and tolerant of maritime exposure, it can be grown as a shelterbelt[10].

Wood - elastic, soft, easy to split, does not splinter. Cultivated for its specialist use in making cricket bats and artificial limbs, it is also used for construction, turnery, poles, tool handles etc[11][8][6]. Also used to make charcoal[11].

Unknown part

Basketry
Charcoal
String
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Justly famous as the original source of salicylic acid (the precursor of aspirin), white willow and several closely related species have been used for thousands of years to relieve joint pain and manage fevers[12].

The bark is anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiperiodic, antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, sedative and tonic[13][14][15][16][17]. It has been used internally in the treatment of dyspepsia connected with debility of the digestive organs[13], rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache[18]. Its tonic and astringent properties render it useful in convalescence from acute diseases, in treating worms, chronic dysentery and diarrhoea[13]. The fresh bark is very bitter and astringent[19]. It contains salicin, which probably decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin) in the human body[20]. This is used as an anodyne and febrifuge[20]. The bark is harvested in the spring or early autumn from 3 - 6 year old branches and is dried for later use[14][15].

The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and colic[18]. An infusion of the leaves has a calming effect and is helpful in the treatment of nervous insomnia[14]. When added to the bath water, the infusion is of real benefit in relieving widespread rheumatism[14]. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried[18].

Unknown part

Anodyne
Antiinflammatory
Antiperiodic
Antiseptic
Astringent
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Febrifuge
Hypnotic
Sedative
Tonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Windbreak

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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. Branches of older wood as long as 2.5 metres can be used[21]. Very easy. Plant into their permanent positions in the autumn.

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, June to August in a frame. Very easy.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Salix alba caerulea. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils, including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils[21][11], but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position[22]. Rarely thrives on chalk[22]. Plants are very tolerant of maritime exposure and atmospheric pollution[10][23].

Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[22]. Allied to S. fragilis, with which it hybridizes[22]. This sub-species is cultivated for its wood which is used to make cricket bats and artificial limbs. According to one report it is a female clone which should make it a cultivar rather than a sub-species unless the clone is the cultivated form of S. alba caerulea. Very fast growing, it can attain a girth of 1 - 1.5 metres in 12 years from a cutting[11]. Trees respond well to pollarding and coppicing. Trees respond badly to transplanting unless moved regularly[11]. The root system is rather aggressive and can cause problems with drains[22]. A very important food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[24] and a good bee plant, providing an early source of nectar and pollen[11]. A very good wildlife habitat, more than 200 species of insects are associated with this tree[25].

Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Salix alba caerulea. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Salix alba caerulea.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Salix alba caerulea
Genus
Salix
Family
Salicaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]
Material uses & Functions
[7][8][6][9][10][11]
Botanic
[11]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Windbreak
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
2
Heat Zone
?
Water
high
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
  • Maritime exposure
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Canopy
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
vigorous
Mature Size
25 x 10 meters
Fertility
self sterile
Pollinators
Bees
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
dioecious











References

  1. ? 1.01.11.2 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
  3. ? 3.03.13.2 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
  4. ? 4.04.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.5 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.1 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.2 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.2 Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press (1988-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.2 Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1984-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.111.211.311.411.511.611.7 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.1 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.113.213.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.114.214.314.4 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
  15. ? 15.015.115.2 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
  16. ? 16.016.1 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
  17. ? 17.017.1 Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism. ()
  18. ? 18.018.118.218.3 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  19. ? 19.019.1 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
  20. ? 20.020.120.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
  21. ? 21.021.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  22. ? 22.022.122.222.322.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  23. ? Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold (1979-00-00)
  24. ? Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan ISBN 0-330-26642-x (1982-00-00)
  25. ? Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. ()


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Facts about "Salix alba caerulea"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familySalicaceae +
Belongs to genusSalix +
Functions asWindbreak +
Has binomial nameSalix alba caerulea +
Has common nameCricket Bat Willow +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partInner bark +, Leaves + and Unknown part +
Has edible useUnknown use + and Tea +
Has environmental toleranceMaritime exposure + and High wind +
Has fertility typeSelf sterile + and Bees +
Has flowers of typeDioecious +
Has growth rateVigorous +
Has hardiness zone2 +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useBasketry +, Charcoal +, String + and Wood +
Has mature height25 +
Has mature width10 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAnodyne +, Antiinflammatory +, Antiperiodic +, Antiseptic +, Astringent +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic +, Febrifuge +, Hypnotic +, Sedative + and Tonic +
Has search namesalix alba caerulea + and cricket bat willow +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid + and Neutral +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy +, Clay + and Heavy clay +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameSalix alba caerulea +
Has water requirementshigh +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
Tolerates maritime exposureYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
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