White willow, known by the scientific name Salix alba, is a species of willow tree native to Europe, Asia and north Africa. They are dioecious plants, meaning one tree will have solely male flowers, whilst another will have only female flowers. They are then pollinated by insects travelling from tree to tree.
Anatomy:
The common name white willow refers to the long silvery-white hairs on the under surface of the leaves, they hang down and give a soft, light appearance. White willow shoots and buds are also covered in white hairs. The average length of the leaf is 4-12 cm, with a width of 1-3 mm. The edges are toothed, with no leaflets and there is one leaf per node along the stem. They have cylindrical clusters of flowers known as catkins, with males having yellow anthers that are often seen in April. Female catkins are green and 3-4 cm long, whilst male catkins are slightly larger at 4-5 cm long. After pollination, female catkins lengthen and develop small capsules containing seeds, these are then spread through wind dispersal. This tree can reach above 12 metres in height, and can spread more than 8 metres. It will take 20-50 years to reach this ultimate height. They flower in the spring, but foliage can be seen throughout spring to autumn. It is one of the first trees to emerge its leaves in spring and the last to drop them in autumn.
Habitat:
These trees can be seen in anthropogenic areas (man-made areas or disturbed ground), around rivers and stream floodplains, meadows, wetland margins and fields. They require moist but well drained soil, and in a position of full sun, or with partial shade. They can adapt to different soil acidities, and can grown in loam, chalk, sandy and clay soils. They prefer temperate climates, preferring cooler weather to warm.
Wildlife value:
The leaves of Salix alba provides a food source for caterpillars of moth species, such as the puss moth, eyed hawk-moth, the willow ermine and the red underwing. The catkin are also a source of nectar and pollen that is important to bees and other pollinating insects. The branches are also a perfect nesting site for birds, and provide shelter for many species.
Spiritual meanings of willow trees:
In biblical times all willow trees were seen as a sign of celebration, where in Leviticus 23:40, believers were told to bring “willows of the brook” as a festival offering. They were also known to symbolise rebirth and vitality, with references to this made in Ezekiel 17:5, where a prophet plants a seed and “sets it like a willow tree”. Additionally in Psalm 137, there is a verse written from the perspective of captive Jews who are fondly remembering their homeland. the sentence “There on the willow trees, we hung up our harps” represents both loss and hope.
In Native America the willow tree was believed to bring good luck. People often tied willow branched to their boats to protect them against bad weather, and tied them to their homes to protect the Great Spirit.
In ancient Greece willow trees were also a source of protection; Orpheus (bringer of song) would carry willow to protect himself from the evil of the underworld. Willow is also associated with music in Greek mythology as the harp that Apollo gave to Orpheus was also made from willow wood. Willows were also a symbol of power, with Hecate (the goddess of witchcraft) using it to create a wand.
In Celtic and European folklore the willow tree was thought to bring good luck, and was where the phrase “knock on/ touch wood” came from. They would knock on the trunk to bring good fortune. The sound of wind blowing through the leaves of he trees was also thought to resemble the sound of elves whispering together.
In ancient China, carrying around willow branches or placing them in doorways was believed to ward off evil spirits. They also thought that willow brings good luck and protection, something that is widely associated with willow trees.
In poetry, willows are often used as a symbol to depict a sense of mourning and sadness. One famous example of this comes from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, where Ophelia is seen drowning near a willow tree.
Natural Healing:
Traditionally, white willow was used to relive the pain associated with headaches and tooth aches. The bark was also boiled, and the water was then drank to releive diarrhoea, sore throats and to reduce joint inflammation in arthritis.
It also has very important medical contributions as they contain salicin, a compound found in the bark of all Salix species, which is needed to create aspirin. The salicylic acid has anti-inflammatory and pain reliving properties so is perfect for a variety of pharmaceutical products.
The tree essence of the white willow is said to enhance our awareness of our deeper self, having a spiritually cleansing effect.
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