The Willow Family
(Salicaceae)
Family Description
The Willow Family contains more than 300 species of trees and shrubs. The group includes many types of willow and poplar.
The flowers grow in yellow, or green structures, known as catkins (or cats-tails) and are either male or female. The male and female catkins grow on separate plants. The seeds are all dispersed by the wind. A tuft of woolly hairs surrounds each seed.
Willows are usually pollinated by insects, whereas poplars are pollinated by the wind.
Crack Willow
Salix fragilis
Crack Willow has grown in Britain for thousands of years. It's branches can be broken off very easily, or even "cracked" off in the wind, hence the name, "Crack Willow."
Humans helped this useful tree to spread. The Crack Willow was deliberately planted along the edges of rivers, streams and lakes, because its roots give strength and stability to the earthy banks, stopping them from crumbling into the water. Its branches were used as poles, to make fences and for many other purposes.
Willows were traditionally pollarded, a practice still carried out today.
Unlike most other willows in Britain, the Crack Willow grows to an impressive size, of up to 26 metres. The crown (top) of the tree is a broad dome shape and its branches spread out very widely, as it grows older. The older trees have heavy, twisted lower branches. Mature willows (over 50 years old) are liable to become top heavy and fall over. However, pollarded and coppiced willows can survive for hundreds of years.
When we think of Willow, we often think of it with long branches dangling towards the ground, or flopping out over the water. This image is of the Weeping Willow, which is a relative of the Crack Willow.
Wet earth and a constant supply of water.
Along the edges of rivers, lakes, streams and ponds.
Wet woodlands.
The leaves are very long, narrow and taper into a fine point. They are a rich glossy green colour and are often quite silky.
The bark is a dull dark grey colour and scaly when young, later developing thick brown ridges.
A tangle of bright red roots, which look like human veins, reach down, through the bank and into the water.
The branches of the Crack Willow can be "cracked" off in the wind. This helps the Willow to spread downstream, because broken off shoots will float downstream and take root if embedded on wet soil. It is simple to grow a new willow by planting a freshly cut willow twig in wet soil.
The Crack Willow can also reproduce by the use of wind-blown seed.
As in all willows, the sexes are separate - the flowers grow on catkins. The male catkins are yellow, the female green.
Each fruit is very slender and becomes fluffy and white.
Seasonal
The Catkins are produced in April and May, before the leaves.
Geographical
In Britain, it grows wild up to south Scotland. It has been planted further North and in Ireland.
Willow has often been associated with bitterness and grief. In much Elizabethan poetry, those who were rejected by a loved one, wore a willow garland.
The bitter taste of Willow, was thought to be transformed into good. Perhaps this is why Harry Potter's wand contains Willow. Willow wands are magical because if planted they can quickly spring to life.
In fairgrounds, coconut-shy balls are made from willow because they are so light that they bounce off the coconuts, even with a direct hit!
Another fun fact is that country-folk used to drink a hot bitter drink made by boiling willow bark, as a cure for fever. Eventually, the remedy was investigated and a chemical called "salicin" was discovered. This was developed into aspirin, which is still used today.
