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    Home»Herbs and Spices»Important facts about Grey Sallow
    Herbs and Spices

    Important facts about Grey Sallow

    By SylviaAugust 11, 2021Updated:August 12, 2021No Comments11 Mins Read
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    Salix cinerea popularly known as common sallow, grey sallow or grey willow is a species of willow belonging to Salicaceae (Willow family). The plant is native to Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to France, Siberia and Iran and also Russia and western Asia (i.e. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan). Apart from gray sallow it is also known as grey willow, large gray willow, common sallow, grey sallow, grey-leaved sallow, large grey willow, and pussy willow, rusty sallow and European gray willow.  The plant offers a great deal of nectar for pollinators. It was rated in the top 10, with a ranking of second place, for most nectar production (nectar per unit cover per year) in a UK plants survey conducted by the AgriLand project which is supported by the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative.

    Grey Sallow Facts

    Grey sallow Quick Facts
    Name: Grey sallow
    Scientific Name: Salix cinerea
    Origin Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to France, Siberia and Iran and also Russia and western Asia
    Colors Grayish green
    Shapes Small densely hairy capsule with two valves that is up to 10 mm long containing several tiny seeds
    Taste Rather bitter taste
    Health benefits Rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache.
    Name Grey sallow
    Scientific Name Salix cinerea
    Native Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to France, Siberia and Iran and also Russia and western Asia (i.e. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan)
    Common Names Grey Willow, large gray willow, common sallow, grey sallow, grey-leaved sallow, large grey willow, pussy willow, rusty sallow, european gray willow, gray sallow
    Name in Other Languages Albanian: Shelg
    Azerbaijani: Külvari söyüd
    Basque: Sahats hauskara
    Bulgarian: Siva vŭrba  (сива върба)
    Catalan: Gatell, gatsalze, salze
    Chinese: Hui liu (灰柳), Huī máo liǔ (灰毛柳)
    Cornish: Helyk loos
    Croatian: Siva vrba, pepeljasta vrba        
    Czech: Vrba popelavá
    Danish:  Graa pil, rust pil
    Dutch:  Grauwe wilg, Grauwe wilg en rossige wilg
    English:  Common sallow, Gray sallow, Grey sallow, Gray willow, Grey willow, Pussy willow, Rusty sallow, Large gray willow, Ashy willow, scilla
    Estonian: Tuhkur paju
    Finnish: Tuhkapaju
    French:  Saule cendré, Saule gris, Osier cendré, Osier gris, gévrine,
    German:  Aschweide, Asch-Weide, Grauweide, Grau-Weide, aschgraue Weide, Werftweide     
    Greek:  Stachtoïtiá (Σταχτοϊτιά)
    Hungarian: Hamvas fűz, rekettyefűz
    Icelandic: Gráselja
    Irish: Saileach liath
    Italian:  Salice cerognolo, Salice cenerognolo (Toscana), Salice cinereo, salice cenerina, salice acuminato, salice cenerino, salice selvatico
    Latvian: Pelēkais kārkls                 
    Lithuanian: Pilkasis karklas
    Netherlands: Grauwe wilg
    Northern Sami: Ránessieđga, Gråselje
    Norwegian: Graavie, Selje-vie, Gråselje,
    Persian: بید خاکستری بزرگ
    Polish:  Wierzba szara , łoza
    Portuguese: Salgueiro-cinzento                , vimeiro-cinzento
    Romanian: Zălog
    Russian:  Iva pepel’naia (Ива пепельная), iva seraya (ива серая)
    Serbian: Siva vrba (сива врба)  
    Slovakia: Vrba popelavá
    Slovenia: Pepelnatosiva vrba
    Spanish:  Sauce ceniciento, sarcino
    Swedish:  Gråvide, Tuhkapaju, Vanligt gråvide
    Turkish:  Boz söğüt
    Udmurt: Purys’ bad’ (Пурысь бадь)
    Ukrainian: Verba popelyasta (Верба попеляста)
    Upper Sorbian: Šěra wjerba
    Welsh: Helyg Llwyd, Helygen Lwyd
    Plant Growth Habit Large deciduous shrub or small spreading tree
    Growing Climates Occur in permanently or seasonally wet, inundated or waterlogged sites, fenland, carrs and occasionally in damp woods especially as sunny edges, wetlands and drainage lines, swamps, riverbanks,  behind coastal dunes, riparian habits, brackish wetlands on coastlands, wet forests, alpine bogs, disturbed and undisturbed lands, stream shores, mesic woodlands, gravelly or sandy beaches, waste ground
    Plant Size 1-2 m tall, rarely a small tree 7 (-10) m high.
    Bark Dark grey to dark grey-brown, smooth when young becoming fissured with age
    Twigs Dark reddish-brown, and densely pubescent when young, becoming glabrous when 2 years old.
    Leaf Alternately arranged leaves are borne on short stalks about 2-5 mm long. These leaves are 0.8-3.5 in (2-9 cm) long and 0.4-1.2 in (1-3 cm) wide and are oval (i.e. elliptic) or egg-shaped in outline (i.e. obovate) with entire to finely toothed (i.e. serrulate) margins and shortly-pointed tips
    Flowering season March to April
    Flower Separate male and female flowers are usually borne on separate plants (i.e. this species is dioecious), but may occasionally be present on different parts of the same plant (i.e. rarely monoecious). Both types of flowers are inconspicuous and are densely arranged in stalk less clusters (i.e. sessile catkins) in the upper leaf forks
    Fruit Shape & Size Small densely hairy capsule with two valves that is up to 10 mm long containing several tiny seeds
    Fruit Color Grayish green
    Propagation By seed and stem fragments
    Varieties
    • Salix cinerea subsp. Cinerea
    • Salix cinerea subsp. Oleifolia
    Taste Rather bitter taste
    Plant Parts Used Bark, Buds, catkins, young, fresh shoots, leaves
    Season May to June

    Plant Description

    Grey sallow is a large deciduous shrub or small spreading tree that normally grows about 1-2 m tall, rarely a small tree 7 (-10) m high. Tree is generally much branched from the base forming a broad, rounded crown. Bark is dark grey to dark grey-brown, smooth when young becoming fissured with age. Twigs are dark reddish-brown, and densely pubescent when young, becoming glabrous when 2 years old. Its distinct feature is the long ridges visible on branches when the bark is removed. The plant is found growing in permanently or seasonally wet, inundated or waterlogged sites, fenland, carrs and occasionally in damp woods especially as sunny edges, wetlands and drainage lines, swamps, riverbanks,  behind coastal dunes, riparian habits, brackish wetlands on coastlands, wet forests, alpine bogs, disturbed and undisturbed lands, stream shores, mesic woodlands, gravelly or sandy beaches and waste ground.

    Stem

    The bark on the stems is smooth and greyish-brown in color, but eventually becomes fissured with age. Younger stems are green, greenish-brown or dark reddish-brown in color and may be hairy (i.e. pubescent) or virtually hairless (i.e. sub-glabrous).

    Leaves

    The alternately arranged leaves are borne on short stalks about 2-5 mm long. These leaves are 0.8-3.5 in (2-9 cm) long and 0.4-1.2 in (1-3 cm) wide and are oval (i.e. elliptic) or egg-shaped in outline (i.e. obovate) with entire to finely toothed (i.e. serrulate) margins and shortly-pointed tips (i.e. acute apices). Their upper surfaces are bright green and sparsely hairy (i.e. sparsely pubescent), while their undersides are pale green or bluish-green (i.e. glaucous) and more densely hairy (i.e. densely pubescent).

    Flowers

    Separate male and female flowers are usually borne on separate plants (i.e. this species is dioecious), but may occasionally be present on different parts of the same plant (i.e. rarely monoecious). Both types of flowers are inconspicuous and are densely arranged in stalk less clusters (i.e. sessile catkins) in the upper leaf forks. They do not have any sepals or petals, but each flower is subtended by a small bract. The male flowers are green or greenish-yellow in color and borne in relatively short clusters that are 2-3 cm long and about 2 cm across. They are about 10 mm long and consist of two or more yellow stamens. The female flowers are mostly green in color and are usually borne in slightly longer clusters that are 2-4 cm long. They consist of an ovary topped with a stigma. Female flowers are longer and narrower than the male. Flowers are produced before the new leaves in early spring. Flowering normally takes place in between March and April.

    Male-flowers-of-Grey-sallow Male-flowers-of-Grey-sallow
    Closer-view-of-immature-fruits-of-Grey-sallow Closer-view-of-immature-fruits-of-Grey-sallow
    Grey-sallow-plant Grey-sallow-plant
    Female-flowers-of-Grey-sallow Female-flowers-of-Grey-sallow
    Flowers-of-Grey-sallow Flowers-of-Grey-sallow
    Leaves-of-Grey-sallow Leaves-of-Grey-sallow
    Plant-illustration-of-Grey-sallow Plant-illustration-of-Grey-sallow
    Sketch-of-Grey-sallow Sketch-of-Grey-sallow
    Mature-fruits-of-Grey-sallow Mature-fruits-of-Grey-sallow
    Grey sallow Image Gallery

    Fruit

    Once pollinated by wind, female flowers are followed by a small grayish green and densely hairy capsule with two valves that is up to 10 mm long containing several tiny seeds. These seeds, which are topped with a tuft of silky hairs, are shed about four weeks after flowering. Small size of the seeds along with the hairs helps in the dispersing. The seeds need bare soil to germinate.

    Two Varieties

    There are two subspecies:

    Salix cinerea subsp. Cinerea

    It is found in Central and Eastern Europe and western Asia. It is a shrub about 4–6 m (rarely 10 m) tall, with smooth bark. Leaves are densely hairy below with pale yellow-grey hairs. Stipules are large, persistent until autumn.

    Salix cinerea subsp. Oleifolia

    It is found in Western Europe and northwest Africa. It is a shrub or tree about 10–15 m tall, with furrowed bark. Leaves are thinly hairy below with dark red-brown hairs. Stipules are small and early deciduous.

    Traditional uses and benefits of Grey Sallow

    • Fresh bark of all members of this genus consists of salicin, which possibly decomposes into salicylic acid (closely related to aspirin), in the human body.
    • It is used as an anodyne and febrifuge.
    • The bark of this species is used interchangeably with S. Alba.
    • Bark is taken internally in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache.
    • The bark is removed during the summer and dried for later use.
    • The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and colic.
    • The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried.
    • Bark was commonly chewed on in order to relieve pain associated with a headache and toothache.

    Other Facts

    • Plants have an extensive root system and are used to stabilize waste tips and old slag heaps.
    • Seeds are very light and so can travel some distance in the wind.
    • The plant is therefore able to find its way to areas such as cleared woodland where the soil has been disturbed.
    • The dried twigs with the leaves attached were once used as animal feed.
    • It has been used extensively for riverbank protection and soil stabilization, also in shelterbelts, and some have ornamental value, and apparently there are no alternative to willows for flood protection.

    Management Tips

    Mechanical

    Cremer gives a brief overview of a variety of mechanical control procedures that can be used in the control of smaller infestations of S. cinerea and other willow species but for larger invasions chemical methods will yield best results. The author reports that S. cinerea less than 1 meter tall and few in number can be pulled out by hand. Roots that remain do not sucker but buried portions of stems may take root and must also be pulled out. Use of heavy machinery can be effective but is not advisable on wet sites if the accidental incorporation of broken, live branches into the ground cannot be kept to a minimum. S. Cinerea can be felled, but except for some large, old willows the remaining stump usually coppices (produces shoots). The green crowns can be burnt immediately after felling (fire restrictions permitting). Burning may be an option if the tree can be completely girdled by fire at ground level; however young trees tend to sprout from the buried portion of their stem. Grazing can retard young S. Cinerea growth but will rarely kill the plant.

    Chemical

    Cremer report that, the main method of controlling S. Cinerea is injection of stems with the weedicide Glyphosate. Painting of freshly cut stems with Glyphosate is particularly effective and the spraying of foliage of shorter plants (< 2m tall) is often effective as well. S. Cinerea can occasionally be resistant to this treatment of painting freshly cut stems and may need to be painted several times. Effectiveness is increased if the bark is also sprayed if it is thin or stripped if it is thick (Cremer, 1999).

    Biological

    The introduction of a biological agent has been considered for control of S. Cinerea in New Zealand, but opposition to the intentional introduction of further nonnative organisms is likely. As other countries explore the possibilities of biological control agents, similar opposition will most likely arise also.

    Harman has researched and identified a varying number of possible biological control agents for S. Cinerea. The author gives a brief introduction and background on these species and while many species appear promising, extensive research is needed before any agent is ever released. First, each varying degrees of research must be conducted to determine which species have a narrow host range. This is critical to the success of a biological control program for S. Cinerea in New Zealand. There are many Salix hybrids that are beneficial and are used extensively for riverbank protection and soil stabilization and any introduced agent must be specific enough to not damage desirable hybrids and other species present in New Zealand.

    References:

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=22519#null

    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=32699

    https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Salix+cinerea

    https://plants.usda.gov/home/classification/67666

    http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200005797

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-5001635

    https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/salix_cinerea.htm

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salix_cinerea

    https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/SAXCI

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    Grey sallow Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Salix cinerea

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Sub Division Spermatophytina  (spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Subclass Dilleniidae
    Super Order Rosanae
    Order Salicales
    Family Salicaceae (Willow family)
    Genus Salix L. (willow)
    Species Salix cinerea L. (large gray willow)
    Synonyms
    • Capraea acuminata (Mill.) Opiz
    • Capraea cinerea (L.) Opiz
    • Salix acuminata Mill.
    • Salix aesculus Gand., 1875
    • Salix ambigua Pollini
    • Salix aquatica Sm.
    • Salix aurita var. cinerea (L.) Fiori
    • Salix australis J.Forbes
    • Salix caprea Boiss. & Buhse
    • Salix carinthiaca Host
    • Salix cinerea f. tricolor Dippel
    • Salix constricta Guss.
    • Salix deserticola Goerz
    • Salix deserticola Goerz ex V.N.Pavlov
    • Salix dubia Andersson
    • Salix dumetorum Suter
    • Salix guseniensis Wimm.
    • Salix hoffmanniana Bluff & Fingerh.
    • Salix incanescens J.Forbes
    • Salix lanata Vill.
    • Salix lutescens A.Kern.
    • Salix praecox Dumort.
    • Salix pseudocaprea Bluff & Fingerh.
    • Salix rothii Hoppe
    • Salix rothii Hoppe ex Rchb.
    • Salix rufinervis DC.
    • Salix spadicea Chaix
    • Salix spadicea Vill.
    • Salix timmii Schkuhr
    • Salix timmii Schkuhr ex Rchb.
    • Salix tortuosa Host
    • Salix vaudensis A.Kern.
    • Usionis aquatica (Sm.) Raf.
    • Vimen acuminata (Mill.) Raf.
    • Vimen cinerea Raf.
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