white willow

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• white-willow
• European willow
• golden willow
• white willow
• Cricket-Bat Willow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Argorips alba

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Malpighiales, it is further categorized under the family Salicaceae. Finally, its scientific identity is defined by the genus Salix.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Salix alba, exhibits a widespread presence across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout the country of Denmark. The species also thrives within the landscapes of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, its distribution extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. These specific locations highlight the plant's preference for the temperate climates of the northern latitudes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salix alba is characterized by its preference for riparian environments, specifically inhabiting places near rivers and other moisture-rich zones. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 3100 m AMSL. Across its natural range, the plant maintains an average elevation of approximately 2450 m AMSL, demonstrating a significant capacity to adapt to diverse vertical gradients within its hydrological habitats.

Elevational range max:

3100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2450 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

inhabited places, rivers

Life history

The life history of Salix alba is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its riparian habitats. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody structures, specifically categorized under the phanerophyte life form classifications which indicate its stature as a tree. Its seasonal rhythm is defined by its deciduous nature, meaning it sheds its foliage annually in response to environmental cues, typically entering a period of dormancy during colder months. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and deciduous phenology enables the species to thrive and regenerate across multiple growing seasons.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Salix alba is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or vine. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behaviors, maintaining a terrestrial habit. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with its height typically ranging from a minimum of 5 meters to a maximum of 30 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 19.04 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

19.04175 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Salix alba is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, operating as a non-carnivorous organism that does not possess the ability to fix nitrogen. The plant's leaf morphology exhibits significant variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, maintaining a mean length of 8.5 cm. The leaf width is similarly variable, spanning from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, with a mean width of 2 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 7.82125 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 118.94 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass distribution per unit area. Supporting its structural integrity, the stem maintains a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 385 mg/cm³.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf size mean:

7.82125 cm²

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

118.94 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

385 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Salix alba is characterized by a sexual process that is strictly dioecious, meaning individual plants are either male or female, and self-fertilization is noted as absent. The flowering period typically commences in April and concludes in May. During this phase, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects for the transfer of pollen. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules are dehiscent, meaning they split open at maturity to release the seeds. The seeds are remarkably lightweight, with a consistent mean, minimum, and maximum mass of 0.00012 g. For dispersal, the species employs an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing the wind to transport its tiny seeds to new locations. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass mean:

0.00012 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Salix alba has 80 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include salicin, Flavonoids, Tannins, salicylic acid, Salidroside.

salicin

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
3. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
4. Spine
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Flavonoids

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Tannins

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

salicylic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
3. Drug testing and analysis

Salidroside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

salicortin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

(+)-Gallocatechin

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-catechin

1. Dr. Duke

1,2-Decanediol

1. Skin pharmacology and physiology

ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Activities

Salix alba has 511 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiangiogenic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antipyretic.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current rheumatology reviews

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Cytoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Salix alba has 13 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include pain, inflammation, acne vulgaris, antacid, central nervous system disorders.

Pain

1. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
3. Spine

Inflammation

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Drug testing and analysis

Acne vulgaris

1. Skin pharmacology and physiology

Antacid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Central nervous system disorders

1. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Fever

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Fevers

1. Drug testing and analysis

Infection

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Influenza a virus

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Jaundice

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Preparations

Salix alba has 11 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, aqueous-methanolic extract (1:1; v/v), bark extract, homogeneous powders of small microparticles, hydro-alcoholic extracts.

Aqueous extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Aqueous-methanolic extract (1:1; v/v)

1. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Bark extract

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Homogeneous powders of small microparticles

1. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition

Hydro-alcoholic extracts

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Hydroethanolic (he) extract

1. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition

Infusions

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Plant powders

1. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition

Pollen compound

1. Journal of investigational allergology & clinical immunology

Superfine powdered fractions

1. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition