White willow (Salix alba, Sp. Pl.: 1021 (1753))

Family: Salicaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 1021 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Salix

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Europe to N. China, NW. Africa

Description

The White Willow, known scientifically as Salix alba, is a stately and versatile tree renowned for its ecological and medicinal benefits. This species was first documented in 1753, a testament to its long-standing recognition and study within the botanical community.

Native to a vast geographical range stretching from Europe to Northern China, and extending into Northwestern Africa, Salix alba has adapted to a variety of temperate climates. This adaptability has allowed it to thrive in numerous habitats, often thriving along riverbanks, wetlands, and other areas with rich, moist soil.

Belonging to the Salicaceae family, the White Willow is characterized by its gracefully slender leaves, which are typically lance-shaped and display a strikingly pale underside. This foliage gives the tree its common name, as from a distance, the tree appears to be cloaked in a shimmering, silvery-white glow.

Apart from its aesthetic appeal, the White Willow holds significant historical importance in traditional medicine. Extracts from its bark have been utilized for their anti-inflammatory properties and served as one of the original sources of salicin, a precursor to the modern-day aspirin. This highlights not only the botanical but also the pharmacological significance of Salix alba.

In addition to its medicinal uses, the White Willow plays a crucial role in its natural habitat. It provides erosion control along water bodies, offering stability to banks with its extensive root system. Furthermore, it supports a rich biodiversity, offering habitat and sustenance to various species of wildlife, including insects, birds, and small mammals.

In conclusion, the White Willow, or Salix alba, stands as a remarkable species within the Salicaceae family, admired not only for its natural beauty but also for its wide-ranging applications and contributions to both ecological stability and human health.

Common Names

En: White willow, GOLDEN WILLOW, Ак-тал, White-willow, Cricket-Bat Willow, European willow, Sallow Tree, Water Willow
Sq: Shelgu i bardhë
Ar: الصفصاف الأبيض, صفصاف أبيض
Hy: Ուռենի սպիտակ
Az: Ağ söyüd
Eu: Zume zuri
Be: Вярба белая
Bg: Бяла върба
Ca: Salze blanc, Salze comú
Zh: Bai liu, 白柳
Cv: Йăмра
Kw: Helyk gwynn
Hr: Bijela vrba
Cs: Vrba bílá
Da: Hvid-Pil
Nl: Schietwilg, Rood
Et: Hõberemmelgas
Fi: Valkosalava, Valkopaju
Fr: Saule blanc, Saule, Osier blanc, Saule argenté, Saule commun, Saule Vivier
Gl: Salgueiro branco
Ka: Წნორი
De: Silberweide, Silber-Weide, Falber, Felbe, Kappweide, Kopfweide, Weiß-Weide, Weißweide
El: Ιτέα η λευκή
Gu: ઇંગ્લીશ વીલો
He: ערבה לבנה
Hi: इंग्लिश विलो
Hu: Fehér fűz
Ga: Saileach bhán
It: Salice bianco, Salice comune
Kn: ಇಂಗ್ಲೀಷ್ ವಿಲೋ
Lv: Baltais vītols
Lt: Baltasis gluosnis
Mk: Бела врба
Ml: വില്ലോമരം
No: Hvitpil
Nb: Hvitpil
Nn: Kvitpil
Fa: بید سفید
Pl: Wierzba biała
Pt: Salgueiro-branco, Chorão-aurea, Chorão-branco, Salgueiro, Salgueiro branco, Vimeiro branco
Pt-br: Salgueiro-branco
Rm: Salesch alv
Ru: Iva belaja, Ива белая
Sr: Бела врба
Sk: Vŕba biela
Es: Bela vrba, Sauce blanco
Sv: Vitpil, Valkosalava
Zh-tw: 白柳
Tt: Өянке
Te: ఇంగ్లీష్ విల్లో
Zh-hant: 白柳
Tr: Ak söğüt
Uk: Верба біла
Cy: Helygen wen, Helyg Gwynion

Synonyms

• Salix alba var. teriana ((Sennen) Goerz)
• Salix pallida (Salisb.)
• Argorips alba ((L.) Raf.)
• Salix alba var. argentea (Wimm.)
• Salix alba f. angustifolia (Lasch)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• Finland (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Krasnoyarsk (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North European Russi (introduced)
• Northwest European R (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Yemen (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Jul 16, 2019 by tk Gard (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 21, 2019 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 2, 2019 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2021 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Nov 25, 2021 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 9, 2022 by yvon s (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 2, 2019 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 2, 2019 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 2, 2019 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 9, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Françoise CARLE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 20, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Dominique REMAUD (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2022 by Dominik Muczyński (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 19, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Oct 28, 2021 by cabana carlos manuel (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2020 by Priscila Santos da Costa (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 1, 2020 by Kampf Robert (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2019 by Colorado Natural (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Apr 18, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 18, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 9, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Françoise CARLE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 16, 2019 by tk Gard (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 25, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:776974-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Salix alba L.)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5372513)

Specifications

Growth