The Origin and Significance of Willow

Willow, alias: Salix, weeping willow, Qingming willow, Salicaceae. It is a common tree in the world and belongs to large deciduous trees. There are weeping willows and withered willows. Live happily by the water.

Willow is divided into weeping willow and withered willow. Weeping willows, also called willows, are deciduous trees; Salix salicifolia, also known as Salix salicifolia, is a deciduous shrub. Willow branches are flexible, with long and narrow leaves, yellow-green flowers in spring, white hairs on seeds, and dancing with the wind when mature. Willow can reproduce asexually, with willow roots growing mainly. "Willows grow into flowers unintentionally", and its unparalleled adaptability makes it one of the most common tree species in China's land greening throughout the ages. Many fibrous roots are deeply rooted in the soil, extending in all directions, hugging the earth tightly, providing rich nutrition for the trunk. Willow is not as tall and straight as pine, nor as tall and straight as poplar. Branches usually grow in two or three meters from the trunk, and the smooth and soft branches droop like silk. Willow leaves are simple and alternate, and the leaves are long and narrow, but the width is suitable, which looks like a girl's slender eyebrows, just like "whipping face is like a willow eyebrow."

Willow is a native tree species in China. According to textual research, there are willows in Shanwang forest in Miocene of Tertiary. According to the sporopollen analysis in Qingdao, Shandong Province, "Salix plants existed near Jiaozhou Bay in Qingdao from1000 to 8500 years ago." Willow is also one of the earliest artificially cultivated and widely distributed plants in China, and the word "willow" has appeared in prehistoric Oracle Bone Inscriptions.

Origin: Chinese mainland.

Toxicity: Yes.

Leaves: lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, about 6~ 14cm long and 5 ~1/mm wide, with fine serrations at the edges.

Flowers: Flowers bloom from February to March every year, and the inflorescence belongs to Zizania, the male inflorescence is 2 ~ 4 cm long and the female inflorescence is about 2 ~ 4 cm long.

Fruit: capsules.

Seed: It has hair on it.

Other characteristics: deciduous trees, slender willow branches, soft and drooping, like wetlands, 20-30 meters high, 50-60 cm in diameter, growing rapidly; The bark tissue is thick, longitudinally cracked, and the center of the aged trunk is rotten and hollow. The branches are slender and drooping, brownish green and hairless; Winter buds are linear and close to branches. Leaves alternate, linear-lanceolate, 7-15cm long and 6-12mm wide, with sharp tips, serrated edges with small glands, dark green surface, grayish white back, smooth and hairless surfaces and stipules. After the leaves bloom, the male inflorescence is a short peduncle, slightly curved, and is 1- 1.5 cm long. The fruit is a capsule with 2 petals at maturity, containing many seeds with a tuft of hairs on them. Cutting propagation in Taiwan Province Province, introduced in the late Ming Dynasty, has a history of more than 300 years. It has strong resistance to air pollution and dust and is suitable for growing in urban gardens, especially by pools or streams.

[Editor] Toxicity of Willow

Toxic parts: leaves and skin.

Poisoning symptoms: sweating, thirst, vomiting, vasodilation, tinnitus, blurred vision, severe dyspnea, drowsiness all day, unconsciousness, deep and slow breathing, rapid pulse and other symptoms.

[Editor] The Medicinal Value of Willow

Aspirin is a commonly used drug with antipyretic and analgesic effects. Its scientific name is acetylsalicylic acid. The invention of aspirin originated from willows all over the world. In China and the west, it has been known since ancient times that willow bark has magical effects of reducing fever and relieving pain.

In traditional Chinese medicine, willow also has the effect of medicine.

Catkin: also known as catkin, it is cool and soft, and can soothe the nerves and hypnotize people as a pillow core. If the catkin is finely ground, it can treat jaundice, hemoptysis, vomiting blood, hematochezia and amenorrhea in women, and it can also treat toothache for external use.

Willow leaf: Like catkin, willow leaf is rich in tannin, which has the functions of clearing away heat and toxic materials, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling. Decocting with water can treat upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, cystitis, mumps and pharyngolaryngitis. Mashing and external application can treat heel pain.

Willow twig: Willow twig is a traditional Chinese medicine bone-setting medicine. Decocting with water can treat coronary heart disease, chronic bronchitis, urinary tract infection, burns and scalds. Decocting in water and fumigation have obvious curative effect on rheumatic and rheumatoid arthritis.

Willow root: It can dispel wind and promote diuresis, reduce swelling and relieve pain, and can treat diseases such as breast abscess, toothache, otitis media and jaundice. It is better to dispel wind, reduce swelling and relieve pain after drinking.

Willow bark: it can eliminate phlegm and improve eyesight, clear away heat and dispel wind, and can still cure scabies by decocting and smoking.

Willow crumbs: It's the crumbs in the holes where willow trees are eaten by insects. Can be used for treating itching and dermatitis, and can be warmed and ironed by boiling water for bathing or frying hot cloth.