Willow family has many uses

Willows, in the genus Salix, are common plants, generally found in riparian, or wet, environments. There are about 170 species worldwide, with about 100 native to North America. Most are shrubs although several reach tree size, often with multiple trunks.

Willows are easily recognized by their leaf shape and flowers that grow in catkins, but it¹s not as easy to tell individual species apart. Plants are dioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants. It can reproduce both by seeds and vegetatively, by the sprouting of stem pieces.

Willows provide food and cover for many wildlife species including shade for fish, habitat for birds, and browse for domestic and other animals including deer. They are a preferred food of beaver and often used as building material for beaver dens. Plants are also used for screening, windbreaks, and landscaping.

Native Americans used preparations from willows to treat toothache, stomach ache, diarrhea, dysentery, and dandruff. The medicinal properties come from the compound salicin found in willows. Salicin is closely related chemically to acetylsalicylic acid, commonly known as aspirin. Native Americans also used the stems for basketry and bow making and the bark for tea and fabric making.

Willow is a pioneer species, able to establish in disturbed soils. It is shade intolerant but able to survive flooding. These characteristics make willow a good choice for streambank stabilization projects. Willows can be heavily pruned and cuttings planted on open sites. Cuttings will root along the entire length of the stem. The fast-spreading root systems are effective in erosion control.

Willow is also being explored as a renewable energy resource to combat global warming. Willow biomass plantations have been established in New York and Europe for its potential as a fuel for electricity generation. These experimental farms are working to optimize production and utilization.