Habitat and Range
Willow is a common plant that grows in or near sources of water. It can be found in all parts of the Sierra up to 12,500 ft.
Physical Description
Willow is a shrub with slender twigs and green to gray bark. The twigs bend easily without breaking and are great for basket-weaving. The leaves are light green and lanceolate to ovate in shape with pinnate veination. They extend from short petioles and often have stipules at the leaf axil. The inflorescence is an erect (not dangling/pendent) catkin which is either a female or male cluster of flowers. The pistillate (female) catkin has one pistil with 2 stigmas. The staminate (male) catkin carries 1 to 8 stamens. The mature, fertilized female catkin (above) appears white and hairy. Thanks to this "hair", the seeds are able to scatter in the wind.
Food Uses
Although willow is mostly considered survival fare as food, the leaves and inner bark (cambium) of all species are edible. Some are more palatable than others due to varying levels of bitterness with age and species.
Medicinal Uses
The genus Salix hints at its potent medicinal qualitites and concentration of salicylic acid. The common pharmaceutical, aspirin, is acetyl-salicylic acid. Fittingly, willow leaves and bark can be consumed raw, as a tea, or used as a poultice for headaches, anti-inflammatory medication or to ease the pains of insect bites and stings. Salix spp contain high concentrations of Vitamin C and can be used to prevent scurvy and strengthen the immune system.
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