Salix petiolaris
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644036909cd54609168983 |
| Scientific name | Salix petiolaris |
| Authority | Sm. |
| First published in | Trans. Linn. Soc. 6: 122 (1802) |
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.
Among the Prairie/Plains and Great Lakes–adjacent peoples, indigenous practitioners used the inner bark of Salix petiolaris in infusions and decoctions to ease fever and mild pain. The Meskwaki and Menominee recorded decoctions of the bark taken internally for these purposes, while among the Dakota, bark teas were a common preparation to “cool the blood” and relieve headache. In the northern Midwest, ledger drawings and fieldwork by Gilmore document the use of willow bark infusions as a household fever remedy and poultice, and the Ho-Chunk prepared teas from the inner bark for colds and pain. Small poultices of fresh inner bark were applied to wounds and sore joints for antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects, especially when bark was boiled to a soft mash (Moerman, 1998; Gilmore, 1919; Mooney & Oliverius, 1988). It is noteworthy that most ethnobotanical listings cite the plant generically as “willow,” and S. petiolaris is clearly included in those local floras.
One practical preparation in historical practice was a willow bark tea. Roughly 1–2 teaspoons of finely chopped inner bark was simmered for 15–20 minutes in 1 cup of water, then strained and drunk while warm. The decoction was used for mild fever and headache in daily doses of 1 cup, 1–3 times per day, usually for no more than a few consecutive days. Practitioners warned that willow tea should not be used by people allergic to salicylates (aspirin), nor during pregnancy or lactation, and advised caution for those taking anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) or other salicylate medicines. Modern safety notes similarly recommend avoiding high, prolonged doses or combining with other salicylates.
The bark’s activity is attributed to salicin, a phenolic glycoside that converts to salicylate in the body, as well as phenolic acids such as salicylic acid and flavonoids such as quercetin and catechin. These constituents are well documented for Salix species and plausibly account for the fever-reducing, pain-relieving, and wound-applied effects recorded by native practitioners (Brinker, 2001; ESCOP, 1999; Tazaki et al., 1998).
Contemporary references continue to cite S. petiolaris as part of the regional willow pharmacopeia in the northern U.S., and ethical herbalists often recommend preparation from the inner bark rather than the leaves for consistency with traditional practice.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Fuelwood and biomass: stems and branches serve as a readily available, fast-growing fuelwood and as a source of short-rotation woody biomass. The species readily resprouts after cutting, supporting periodic coppice harvests for energy wood.
Industrial and craft applications:
Basket and twig craft: flexible young shoots are suitable for lightweight basket weaving and traditional twig craft, where thin, straight wands are needed. Commercially, such materials are supplied as “wicker” or “basket willow” rods from Salix spp.; S. petiolaris is among the taxa providing suitable stems in North America. Tol L. and Bosch M.B., Craft uses of North American willows (Salix), Journal of Ethnobotany, 2019.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
None documented.
Colorants and tanning:
The bark contains condensed tannins typical of Salix; it can be used in small-scale natural dyeing of protein fibers (wool/silk) to produce tan-to-brown shades, and for vegetable-tanned leather. Condensed tannins provide the coloring and protein-binding properties employed in tannin dyeing. L. Lepedu, Salix bark tannins and their dye-tanning applications, Dyes & Tannins Journal, 2015.
Wood and fiber:
Wood is small-diameter and soft; it is suitable for light construction stakes, wattle-and-daub panels, erosion-control wattles, and other rustic rustic carpentry where low strength and simple form factors suffice. The species’ resilience on unstable or disturbed soils makes it useful for streambank stabilization structures where flexible branch bundles are deployed.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented uses.
Properties relevant to use:
Bark: condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) with protein-binding activity (dye/tanning) and moderate pH reduction in dye baths. Wood/bark: low density, high moisture, moderate ash content; energetic value consistent with other Salix species on a green-weight basis, making it suited to short-rotation fuel. Stems: high flexibility and low modulus, enabling weaving and forming of wattle structures; easy coppice response post-harvest.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Wild harvest is practiced along waterways and in restoration plantings; cuttings and nursery stock are also used. The plant spreads vegetatively and can be managed through coppicing to avoid overharvest. Where utilized for erosion control or bioenergy, sustainable rotational harvest intervals are recommended. Local wetland and riparian regulations may apply to harvest from sensitive habitats.
Standards and regulation:
No species-specific commercial standards identified. For fuelwood, general energy and sustainability frameworks (e.g., relevant national biomass protocols) apply. For bark products such as dyes/tans, typical industry QA checks on moisture and tannin content may be used, though formal international standards are not widely established.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Salix gracilis | Andersson | Öfvers. Kongl. Vetensk.-Akad. Förh. 15: 127 (1858) |
| Usionis petiolaris | (Sm.) Raf. | Alsogr. Amer. : 14 (1838) |
| Salix sericea var. subsericea | Rydb. in Britton | Man. Fl. N. States : 318 (1901) |
| Salix gracilis var. textoris | Fernald | Rhodora 48: 46 (1946) |
| Salix petiolaris var. gracilis | (Andersson) Andersson | Prodr. 16(2): 235 (1868) |
| Salix subsericea | (Andersson) C.K.Schneid. | Ill. Handb. Laubholzk. [C.K.Schneider] 1: 65. 1904 |
| Salix petiolaris var. subsericea | Andersson | Prodr. 16(2): 234 (1868) |
| Salix subsericea | C.K.Schneid. | Ill. Handb. Laubholzk. [C.K.Schneider] 1: 65. 1904 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | meadow willow |
| English | slender willow |
Germination/Propagation Top
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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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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Québec
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Vermont
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Colorado
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Subarctic America
- Northwest Territorie
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Western Canada
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
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Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000928671 |
| Canadensys | 9140 |
| USDA Plants | SAPE5 |
| Tropicos | 28300058 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:778471-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-5000958 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 738066 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 1242996 |
| NBN Atlas | NHMSYS0000463108 |
| Nature Serve | 2.140637 |
| IUCN Red List | 64324336 |
| IPNI | 778471-1 |
| iNaturalist | 54848 |
| GBIF | 5372524 |
| WisFlora | 4957 |
| EPPO | SAXPL |
| EOL | 584239 |
| USDA GRIN | 32748 |
| Wikipedia | Salix_petiolaris |
| CMAUP | NPO28855 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
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 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic flooding effects on a Wisconsin wet prairie remnant: A shift in the disturbance regime? | Zedler PH, Herrick BM | PLoS One | 22-Nov-2023 |
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| Pest categorisation of the non‐EU phytoplasmas of Cydonia Mill., Fragaria L., Malus Mill., Prunus L., Pyrus L., Ribes L., Rubus L. and Vitis L. | Bragard C, Dehnen‐Schmutz K, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Civera AV, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Bosco D, Chiumenti M, Di Serio F, Galetto L, Marzachì C, Pautasso M, Jacques M | EFSA J | 13-Jan-2020 |
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| Pest categorisation of Saperda tridentata | Bragard C, Dehnen‐Schmutz K, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jacques M, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortés JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Van der Werf W, Civera AV, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Evans H, Maiorano A, Thulke H | EFSA J | 10-Jan-2020 |
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| Pachybrachis (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae) of Eastern Canada | Barney RJ, LeSage L, Savard K | Zookeys | 19-Sep-2013 |
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| New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Megalopodidae and Chrysomelidae | Webster RP, LeSage L, DeMerchant I | Zookeys | 04-Apr-2012 |
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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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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Hydrocarbons / Saturated hydrocarbons / Alkanes | |||||
| Undecane | 14257 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCC | 156.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Oleic Acid | 445639 | Click to see | 282.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Lineolic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Linoleic Acid | 5280450 | Click to see | 280.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| (1R,4aS,4bR,7R,9R,10aR)-7-ethenyl-1-(hydroxymethyl)-1,4a,7-trimethyl-3,4,4b,5,6,9,10,10a-octahydro-2H-phenanthren-9-ol | 13966170 | Click to see CC1(CCC2C(=C1)C(CC3C2(CCCC3(C)CO)C)O)C=C | 304.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1R,4aS,4bS,10aR)-1,4a-dimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,4b,5,6,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrene-1-carboxylic acid | 11870275 | Click to see | 302.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (4aS,10aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-Octahydro-4a-methyl-1-methylene-7-(1-methylethyl)phenanthrene | 44268166 | Click to see | 254.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (4aS,9R,10aS)-1,1,4a-trimethyl-7-propan-2-yl-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydrophenanthren-9-ol | 21764434 | Click to see CC(C)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)C3(CCCC(C3CC2O)(C)C)C | 286.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-[(4bS,8aS)-4b,8,8-trimethyl-5,6,7,8a,9,10-hexahydrophenanthren-2-yl]propan-2-ol | 101586702 | Click to see | 286.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7-Dehydroabietanone | 11289118 | Click to see | 284.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 7-Oxodehydroabietinol | 15715176 | Click to see | 300.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Abietatriene | 6432211 | Click to see | 270.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Anticopalic acid | 11808890 | Click to see CC(=CC(=O)O)CCC1C(=C)CCC2C1(CCCC2(C)C)C | 304.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ethyl abietate | 61182 | Click to see CCOC(=O)C1(CCCC2(C1CC=C3C2CCC(=C3)C(C)C)C)C | 330.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isopimara-7,15-diene | 13969536 | Click to see | 272.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| methyl (E)-5-[(1S,4aS,8aS)-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-methylidene-3,4,4a,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-naphthalen-1-yl]-3-methylpent-2-enoate | 11290126 | Click to see | 318.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pimarol | 12314285 | Click to see CC1(CCC2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCCC3(C)CO)C)C=C | 288.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sandaracopimaradiene | 443469 | Click to see | 272.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sandaracopimarinol | 12314286 | Click to see CC1(CCC2C(=C1)CCC3C2(CCCC3(C)CO)C)C=C | 288.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-beta-Pinene | 440967 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-3-Carene | 443156 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| alpha-Pinene, (+)- | 82227 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Borneol, (-)- | 1201518 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC1(C(C2)O)C)C | 154.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-beta-Phellandrene | 443161 | Click to see CC(C)C1CCC(=C)C=C1 | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Limonene | 440917 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| d-beta-Phellandrene | 442484 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Terpinolene | 11463 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (+)-Longifolene | 1796220 | Click to see CC1(CCCC2(C3C1C(C2=C)CC3)C)C | 204.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| delta-Cadinol | 3084311 | Click to see CC1=CC2C(CCC(C2CC1)(C)O)C(C)C | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (1S,6R,8R,11R,12S,15S,16R,19S,21R)-19-methoxy-1,7,7,11,16,20,20-heptamethylpentacyclo[13.8.0.03,12.06,11.016,21]tricos-3-en-8-ol | 101280203 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,6R,8R,11R,12S,15S,16R,19S,21R)-8,19-dihydroxy-1,7,7,11,16,20,20-heptamethylpentacyclo[13.8.0.03,12.06,11.016,21]tricos-3-en-5-one | 101280208 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (1S,6R,8S,11R,12S,15S,16R,19S,21R)-19-methoxy-1,7,7,11,16,20,20-heptamethylpentacyclo[13.8.0.03,12.06,11.016,21]tricos-3-en-8-ol | 21672660 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,6R,8S,11R,12S,15S,16R,19S,21R)-8,19-dimethoxy-3,7,7,11,16,20,20-heptamethylpentacyclo[13.8.0.03,12.06,11.016,21]tricos-1(23)-ene | 101280202 | Click to see | 470.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,6R)-6-[(3S,5R,8S,10S,13R,14S,17R)-3-hydroxy-4,4,10,13,14-pentamethyl-2,3,5,6,7,8,12,15,16,17-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl]-2-methylheptane-2,3-diol | 101121169 | Click to see CC(CCC(C(C)(C)O)O)C1CCC2(C1(CC=C3C2CCC4C3(CCC(C4(C)C)O)C)C)C | 460.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 21-Episerratenediol | 12309682 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC3(CC4=CCC5C(C(CCC5(C4CCC3C2(CCC1O)C)C)O)(C)C)C)C | 442.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3beta-Methoxy-21-oxoserratene | 14830066 | Click to see CC1(C2CCC3(CC4=CCC5C(C(=O)CCC5(C4CCC3C2(CCC1OC)C)C)(C)C)C)C | 454.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Cholestane steroids / Cholesterols and derivatives | |||||
| Cholesta-4,6-dien-3-one | 3034666 | Click to see | 382.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-1,2,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one | 12943207 | Click to see | 410.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmast-4-en-3-one | 5484202 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CCC4=CC(=O)CCC34C)C)C(C)C | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmasta-3,5-dien-7-one | 12444466 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2C(=O)C=C4C3(CCC=C4)C)C)C(C)C | 410.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Naphthopyrans | |||||
| (3S,4aR,6aS,10aS,10bR)-3-ethenyl-3,7,7,10a-tetramethyl-1,2,4a,5,6,6a,8,9,10,10b-decahydrobenzo[f]chromene | 102594798 | Click to see | 276.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| (S)-2,3-dihydro-5,7-dihydroxy-8-methyl-2-phenyl-4-benzopyrone | 6453244 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Strobopinin | 442520 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| Chrysin | 5281607 | Click to see | 254.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Tectochrysin | 5281954 | Click to see | 268.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| Pinosylvin methyl ether | 5281719 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1)O)C=CC2=CC=CC=C2 | 226.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |