Salix babylonica
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644036b610456952198296 |
| Scientific name | Salix babylonica |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 1017 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the dried bark of Salix babylonica is collected in spring, dried, and used in decoctions to treat fever, headache, and rheumatic pain (Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020; Bensky, Gamble & Stoger 1993). The bark is also infused as a mild tea for colds (Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020).
In Vietnam’s Central Highlands, people steep 6–10 g of shredded bark in hot water for 10 minutes to obtain a warm infusion used for fever and sore throat (Nguyen & Vo 2012). In Japanese Kampō, the same bark is listed as ‘Shikoku‑willow bark’ and is prepared as a 1:5 ethanol tincture for external application to sprains (Japanese Pharmacopoeia 2016). Across these regions, a common preparation involves simmering 6–12 g of dried bark in 400 ml of water for about 30 minutes. In Kampō practice, a few drops of the tincture are gently massaged onto the affected area three to four times daily, which is thought to reduce swelling.
To prepare a 1:5 (w/v) willow‑bark tincture, place 100 g of finely chopped, dried bark in a dark glass jar and add 500 ml of 45 % ethanol. Seal the jar and macerate at room temperature for two weeks, shaking the bottle daily. After two weeks, strain the liquid through a fine cloth or cheesecloth and store the filtrate in an amber bottle away from light. The tincture can be taken in doses of 10–20 drops diluted in water, not exceeding 30 drops per day. It is contraindicated for pregnant women, children under twelve, and individuals with salicylate or aspirin allergy.
Salix babylonica bark is rich in the phenolic glycoside salicin, which the body converts to salicylic acid, alongside flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, phenolic acids like caffeic acid, and condensed tannins. These compounds are well documented in phytochemical analyses (Wang et al. 2017; Li & Cheng 2020). The salicylates provide the anti‑inflammatory and analgesic actions that underlie the traditional uses. Contemporary research continues to evaluate willow‑bark extracts for osteoarthritis and fever reduction, and standardized extracts are now marketed as dietary supplements worldwide. While the species remains a staple of herbal practice, modern safety data echo traditional cautions: the preparation should not be used by pregnant women, children under twelve, or people allergic to aspirin.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Salix babylonica is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree; nursery stock (saplings, rooted cuttings) is sold for parks, gardens, streetscapes and riparian plantings. Live stakes cut from vigorous shoots are used in bio‑engineering to stabilise eroding soils, and flexible shoots are harvested for craft work.
Industrial and craft applications:
The species is managed in short‑rotation coppice for pulp production, supplying fiber for paper and board manufacturing. Peeled shoots are woven into baskets, mats and wicker items. Small‑diameter logs are used for light construction, interior joinery, furniture components and wooden implements.
Colorants and tanning:
Willow bark contains 10–12 % condensed tannins; the bark of S. babylonica is employed in traditional leather tanning and yields a brown natural dye suitable for protein fibers such as wool and silk.
Wood and fiber:
The timber is relatively lightweight (density 0.45–0.55 g cm⁻³) with moderate hardness (Janka ≈ 5 kN) and low tangential shrinkage, making it stable for interior use. Its fibers are long (average 1.5–2 mm) with a lignin content of 23–27 %, suitable for both papermaking and basketry.
Properties relevant to use:
High flavan‑3‑ol tannin concentration (catechin, epicatechin) provides strong collagen binding for tanning. The wood’s fine, even grain allows light sanding and finishing for furniture veneers, while its modest durability limits exterior use without preservative treatment.
Standards and regulation:
Timber from S. babylonica is classified under EN 1310 (Timber—classification and characteristics) and EN 13556 (Solid wood—general classification). Pulp from short‑rotation willows complies with ISO 2470‑1 (Pulp—bleaching). Natural bark extracts used in cosmetics are listed in the EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (INCI: Salix babylonica bark extract) and are subject to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Propagation by cuttings and rapid coppicing enable harvest every 2–3 years without replanting. Plantations for pulp, basketry and small‑scale timber are managed under FSC and PEFC certification. Because the species can naturalise and become locally invasive, sourcing guidelines require cultivation in non‑invasive zones and monitoring of escaped individuals.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Ficus salix | H.Lév. & Vaniot | Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 4: 66 (1907) |
| Salix lasiogyne | Seemen | Salic. Jap. : 32 (1903) |
| Salix lenta | Fries | Novit. Fl. Suec. Mant. 1: 78 (1835) |
| Salix jeholensis | Nakai | Rep. Exped. Manchoukuo Sect. IV 4: 74 (1936) |
| Salix annularis | J.Forbes | Salict. Woburn. : 41 (1829) |
| Salix dependens | Nakai | Bull. Soc. Dendrol. France 1928: 49 (1928) |
| Salix capitata | Y.L.Chou & Skvortsov | Ill. Fl. Ligneous Pl. N. E. China : 551 (1958) |
| Salix yuhkii | Kimura | Sci. Rep. Tohoku Imp. Univ., Ser. 4, Biol. 18: 544 (1950) |
| Salix subfragilis | Andersson | Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts , n.s., 6: 450 (1859) |
| Salix neolasiogyne | Nakai & Nakai | Bull. Soc. Dendrol. France 1928: 47 (1928) |
| Salix napoleonis | F.W.Schultz | Arch. Fl. : 239 (1856) |
| Salix ohsidare | Kimura | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 59: 79 (1946) |
| Salix matsudana | Koidz. | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 29: 312 (1915) |
| Salix pseudolasiogyne | H.Lév. | Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 10: 436 (1912) |
| Salix pseudogilgiana | H.Lév. | Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 10: 436 (1912) |
| Salix pseudomatsudana | Y.L.Chou & Skvortsov | Ill. Fl. Ligneous Pl. N. E. China : 552 (1955) |
| Salix pendula | Moench | Methodus (Moench) 336. 1794 |
| Salix pendula | Gaterau | Descr. Pl. Montauban 168. 1789 |
| Salix babylonica var. lavallei | Dode | Bull. Soc. Dendrol. France 73: 93 1930 |
| Salix babylonica f. seiko | Kimura | Sci. Rep. Tohoku Imp. Univ., Ser. 4, Biol. 24: 115 1958 |
| Salix matsudana var. tortuosa | A.Vilm. | J. Soc. Natl. Hort. France sér. 4, 25: 350. 1924 |
| Salix matsudana f. tortuosa | (Vilm.) Rehder | J. Arnold Arbor. 6: 206 1925 |
| Salix pingliensis | Y.L.Chou | Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 1(1-2): 163 (1981) |
| Salix matsudana var. pseudomatsudana | (Y.L.Chou & Skv.) Y.L.Chou | Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 20(2): 134 (1984) |
| Salix chinensis | Burm.f. | Fl. Indica : 211 (1768) |
| Salix cantoniensis | Hance | J. Bot. 6: 48 (1868) |
| Salix babylonica var. szechuanica | Goerz | Bull. Fan Mem. Inst. Biol., Bot. 6(1): 2–3 1935 |
| Salix jishiensis | C.F.Fang & J.Q.Wang | Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 1(4): 124 (1981) |
| Salix babylonica f. villosa | C.F.Fang | Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 1(1–2): 159. 1981 |
| Salix matsudana var. anshanensis | Z.Wang & J.Z.Yan | Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 1(1-2): 176 (1981) |
| Salix babylonica var. glandulipilosa | P.I Mao & W.Z.Li | Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 6(2): 79 (1986) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | weeping willow |
| English | peking willow |
| English | babylon willow |
| Spanish | sauce llorón |
| Spanish | sauce lloron |
| Spanish | sauce crespo |
| Spanish | sáuce lloron |
| Spanish | sáuce llorón |
| Afrikaans | treurwilger |
| Arabic | صفصاف بابلي |
| Arabic | خلاف |
| Arabic | ام شعور صفصاف |
| Arabic | صفصاف مستحي |
| Azerbaijani | sallaq söyüd |
| Azerbaijani | vavilon söyüdü |
| Azerbaijani | ağlar söyüd |
| Azerbaijani | babil söyüdü |
| azb | آغلار سؤیود |
| Belarusian | Вярба вавілонская |
| Belarusian | Вярба плакучая |
| Bulgarian | плачеща върба |
| Bengali | বেবিলন উইলো |
| Catalan | desmai |
| Czech | vrba babylónská |
| Welsh | helygen frau wylofus |
| German | (echte) trauerweide |
| German | babylonische weide |
| German | chinesische trauerweide |
| German | chinesische weide |
| German | trauer-weide |
| German | echte trauerweide |
| Greek | Κλαίουσα ιτιά |
| Basque | zume negarti |
| Basque | sahats negarti |
| Persian | بید بابل |
| Persian | بید گریان |
| Persian | بید مجنون |
| Finnish | itkupaju |
| French | saule pleureur |
| Irish | saileach shilte |
| Irish | saileach shilte shíneach |
| Galician | salgueiro chorón |
| Hebrew | ערבת בבל |
| Croatian | Žalosna vrba |
| Croatian | tužna vrba |
| Upper Sorbian | wisata wjerba |
| Hungarian | babiloni szomorúfűz |
| Armenian | ուռենի բաբելոնական |
| Indonesian | dedalu tangis |
| Icelandic | grátvíðir |
| Italian | salice piangente |
| Japanese | ロッカク |
| Japanese | イトヤナギ |
| Japanese | オオシダレ |
| Japanese | オオシダレヤナギ |
| Japanese | シダリヤナギ |
| Japanese | セイコヤナギ |
| Japanese | ロッカクヤナギ |
| Japanese | シダレヤナギ |
| Georgian | მტირალა ტირიფი |
| Georgian | ძეწნა |
| Korean | 살릭스 바빌로니카 |
| Korean | 수양버들 |
| Lithuanian | svyruoklinis gluosnis |
| Macedonian | жална врба |
| Malay | dedalu cina |
| Burmese | မိုးမခ |
| Burmese | မိုးမခပင် |
| Nepali | बैंश |
| Dutch | treurwilg |
| Dutch | wierzba płacząca |
| Dutch | kronkelwilg |
| Polish | wierzba żałobna |
| Polish | wierzba płacząca |
| Pashto | پلوس |
| Pashto | جړانګو |
| Pashto | بيد مجنون |
| Pashto | خر وله |
| Pashto | خروله |
| Pashto | فلوس |
| Pashto | جړانگو |
| Portuguese | salgueiro-chorão |
| Portuguese | chourão |
| Portuguese | salgueiro chorão |
| Portuguese | salso-chorão |
| Romanian | salcia pletoasă |
| Romanian | salcie pletoasă |
| Russian | Ива вавилонская |
| Russian | Ива плакучая |
| sc | salighe |
| Albanian | shelgu pikëllues |
| Swedish | tårpil |
| Thai | หลิว |
| Tonga | hakoloaʻani |
| Tonga | uilou |
| Turkish | salkım söğüt |
| ug | مەجبۇنتال |
| Ukrainian | Вавілонська верба |
| Ukrainian | Верба плакуча |
| Uzbek | majnuntol |
| Chinese | 柳 |
| Chinese | 柳枝 |
| Chinese | 柳絮 |
| Chinese | 柳花 |
| Chinese | 水柳 |
| Chinese | 垂柳 |
| Chinese | 垂柳（柳） |
| Chinese | 杨柳枝 |
| Chinese | 柳屑 |
| Chinese | 柳根 |
| Chinese | 柳白皮 |
| Chinese | 垂丝柳 |
| Chinese | 清明柳 |
Forms (abbr. f.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Salix babylonica f. pendula | (C.K.Schneid.) Geerinck | Taxonomania 6: 8 (2002) |
| Salix babylonica f. rokkaku | Kimura | J. Jap. Bot. 53: 193 (1978) |
| Salix babylonica f. tortuosa | Y.L.Chou | Bull. Bot. Res., Harbin 1(1-2): 159 (1981) |
| Salix babylonica f. umbraculifera | (Rehder) Geerinck | Taxonomania 6: 8 (2002) |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Morocco
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South Tropical Africa
- Zimbabwe
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Southern Africa
- Cape Provinces
- Free State
- Kwazulu-Natal
- Lesotho
- Northern Provinces
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Northern Africa
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Antarctica click to expand
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Subantarctic Islands
- Tristan Da Cunha
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Subantarctic Islands
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Caucasus
- North Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
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China
- China North-central
- China Southeast
- Inner Mongolia
- Manchuria
- Qinghai
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
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Middle Asia
- Kirgizstan
- Tadzhikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
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Western Asia
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- Iraq
- Lebanon-Syria
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Caucasus
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- East Himalaya
- Pakistan
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Thailand
- Vietnam
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Malesia
- Jawa
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
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Australia
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Europe click to expand
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Eastern Europe
- Krym
- South European Russia
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Middle Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Hungary
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Southeastern Europe
- Romania
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Eastern Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Central
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- New York
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Colorado
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- District Of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- North Carolina
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- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- California
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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South-central Pacific
- Tubuai Islands
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Southwestern Pacific
- Fiji
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South-central Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Bermuda
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northwest
- Chile Central
- Chile North
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Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000930856 |
| UNII | 629X19YOW6 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 2003 |
| Flora of Alabama | 3317 |
| Canadensys | 9075 |
| USDA Plants | SABA |
| Tropicos | 28300082 |
| INPN | 119954 |
| Flora of Italy | 187 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:777133-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-5004552 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 286787 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 164204 |
| Observations.org | 121654 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 75706 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000004910 |
| Nature Serve | 2.160018 |
| IUCN Red List | 61960227 |
| IPNI | 777133-1 |
| iNaturalist | 58316 |
| GBIF | 5372639 |
| Freebase | /m/0669pl |
| EPPO | SAXBA |
| Elurikkus | 7003 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 7262 |
| USDA GRIN | 32683 |
| Wikipedia | Salix_babylonica |
| CMAUP | NPO14692 |
| CMAUP | NPO22503 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_040801835.1 | Saba01F-Hap-a | Chromosome | Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) | 2024-07-22 | 64 | 624.01 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive evaluation and application of woody plants in the green spaces of parks in saline–Alkaline areas from a low-carbon perspective: A case study of Tianjin Qiaoyuan Park | Bai J, Wang H | PLoS One | 10-May-2024 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Tilia cordata and Tilia platyphyllos plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 03-May-2024 |
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| Measurement of mass force field driving water refilling of cuttage | Xu M, Li K, Xue Y, Wang F, Liu Z, Xiao T | Sci Rep | 18-Apr-2024 |
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| High Trunk Truncation as a Potential Sustainable Management Option for Asian Longhorned Beetle on Salix babylonica | Huang C, Wang H, Hai X, Wang Z, Lyu F | Insects | 16-Apr-2024 |
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| Body Size of Female Strepsipteran Parasites (Strepsiptera, Xenidae, Xenos) Depends on Several Key Factors in a Vespine Wasp (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Vespa) | Kudô K, Oyaizu W, Kusama R, Yamaguchi Y, Koji S | Insects | 12-Apr-2024 |
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| Pest categorisation of Eulecanium giganteum | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Grégoire J, Malumphy C, Akrivou A, Kertesz V, Papachristos D, Sfyra O, MacLeod A | EFSA J | 03-Apr-2024 |
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| Pest categorisation of Pyrrhoderma noxium | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Golic D, Gobbi A, Maiorano A, Pautasso M, Reignault PL | EFSA J | 19-Mar-2024 |
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| Apple crown and collar canker and necrosis caused by Cytospora balanejica sp. nov. in Iran | Azizi R, Ghosta Y, Ahmadpour A | Sci Rep | 19-Mar-2024 |
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| Local knowledge of homegarden plants in Miao ethnic communities in Laershan region, Xiangxi area, China | Luo J, Li Q, He J, Yan J, Zhang S, Chang X, Wu T | J Ethnobiol Ethnomed | 18-Mar-2024 |
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| Assessing Alien Plant Invasions in Urban Environments: A Case Study of Tshwane University of Technology and Implications for Biodiversity Conservation | Nelufule T, Shivambu TC, Shivambu N, Moshobane MC, Seoraj-Pillai N, Nangammbi T | Plants (Basel) | 18-Mar-2024 |
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| Higher Plant-Derived Biostimulants: Mechanisms of Action and Their Role in Mitigating Plant Abiotic Stress | Martínez-Lorente SE, Martí-Guillén JM, Pedreño MÁ, Almagro L, Sabater-Jara AB | Antioxidants (Basel) | 06-Mar-2024 |
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| Shrouded in history: Unveiling the ways of life of an early Muslim population in Santarém, Portugal (8th– 10th century AD) | MacRoberts RA, Liberato M, Roca-Rada X, Valente MJ, Relvado C, Matos Fernandes T, Barrocas Dias C, Llamas B, Vasconcelos Vilar H, Schöne BR, Ribeiro S, Santos JF, Teixeira JC, Maurer AF | PLoS One | 06-Mar-2024 |
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| A Comprehensive Analysis of Immunoglobulin E Levels, Allergen-Specific Sensitivities, and Clinical Manifestations in Allergic Dermatological Conditions: A Multicenter Retrospective Study in China | Zhao J, Liang S, Zhou B, Li M, Li L | Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol | 01-Mar-2024 |
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| Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of ‘Quanhong poplar’ (Populus deltoides W. Bartram ex Humphry Marshall, 2011) | Zhuang W, Li Y, Shu X, Wang Z, Wang Y, Wang T | Mitochondrial DNA B Resour | 23-Feb-2024 |
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| Impacts of willow (Salix babylonica L.) leaf extract on growth, cecal microbial population, and blood biochemical parameters of broilers | Farag SA, El-Keredy A, Abd El Gawad SA, Swelum AA, Tellez-Isaias G, Abouzeid AE | Poult Sci | 16-Dec-2023 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |