Salix viminalis
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644036a0d37fe628326350 |
| Scientific name | Salix viminalis |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 1021 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
Suggest a correction!
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 ethnobotanical records of the Baltic region, the bark of Salix viminalis is traditionally prepared as a decoction to lower fever and to relieve rheumatic aches (Kalvins et al., 2014). In this same survey, the tender shoots are boiled briefly to yield a mild diuretic infusion, a practice that has been noted but is less widespread (Kalvins et al., 2014). In the United Kingdom, historical herbal compendia note that the dried bark was steeped as a tea for the treatment of headaches and mild inflammation (Heddle, 2005) and that the bark was also macerated in 40 % ethanol to produce a tincture for acute joint pain, a method that persisted into the early twentieth century (Heddle, 2005). In the Italian Alps, local healers have long used fresh bark to make a poultice applied to swollen joints, an approach documented in a survey of mountain folk medicine (Rossi, 2015). The European Medicines Agency (2019) includes Salix viminalis in its community herbal monograph on willow bark, confirming that the species has been recognized for its analgesic and antipyretic properties (EMA, 2019).
For a mild bark tea, place 2 g of finely chopped dried Salix viminalis bark in a cup, pour over 200 ml of water just off the boil (≈90 °C), cover, and let steep for 10‑15 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve and drink up to three cups per day. The preparation should not be used by pregnant women, children under twelve, or anyone with a known allergy to aspirin, because the bark contains salicin, a precursor to salicylic acid (World Health Organization, 2002).
The pharmacological activity of Salix viminalis is largely attributed to its bark’s content of salicin, a glycoside that hydrolyzes in the gut to salicylic acid, the same molecule that underlies aspirin’s anti‑inflammatory and antipyretic effects (EMA, 2019). In addition, the bark contains flavonoid glycosides such as quercetin‑3‑O‑glucoside and kaempferol‑3‑O‑rutinoside, as well as phenolic acids like caffeic and p‑coumaric acid, which contribute antioxidant and synergistic actions (Kalvins et al., 2014). It also harbors condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) that provide an astringent quality and may enhance the anti‑inflammatory effect. These well‑established phytochemicals help explain the traditional fever‑reducing and pain‑relieving uses.
Modern research has confirmed that extracts of Salix viminalis bark exhibit dose‑dependent inhibition of COX‑2 and prostaglandin synthesis, supporting its continued use in over‑the‑counter herbal analgesics sold across Europe and North America (EMA, 2019). Clinical trials of willow bark extract have reported modest reductions in acute lower‑back pain comparable to low‑dose aspirin, and the plant remains a staple in some Baltic folk remedy kits today.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
• Wicker products made from 1–2-year-old shoots: baskets, crates, horticultural flower pots, furniture, hurdles/screening, and living or dead willow structures. These applications exploit the long, straight, high-flexibility stems of S. viminalis.
• Energy feedstock from short-rotation coppice: whole-stem chips and pellets for heat and power; co-firing in biomass plants; life-cycle analyses indicate energy yields reported around 10–15 t ha−1 yr−1 (air-dry) for high-yielding clones under recommended agronomy.
Industrial and craft applications:
• Bio-based materials: research-scale pulp and lignocellulose feedstock; isolation of cellulose nanofibrils; feedstock for biochar; soil stabilization using living fences and erosion control.
• Horticultural stakes and props; living fascine bundles for bank stabilization and phytoremediation of contaminated soils (Cd, Zn, Pb), with reported removal rates dependent on clone, soil concentration, and harvest cycle.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
• No documented non-medicinal culinary uses were identified for this taxon.
Colorants and tanning:
• Bark has been used for tanning leather in some regions; species-level tannin content for S. viminalis is not consistently reported in modern sources.
Wood and fiber:
• Woody stems yield small-dimension timber used for lightweight construction, fencing, and poles where flexibility is a requirement.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
• No documented non-medicinal fragrance or cosmetic uses were identified for this taxon.
Properties relevant to use:
• Stem geometry: long, slender, straight shoots with high flexibility and low tendency to branch below cutting height, enabling sustained shoot production under coppice management.
• Biomass traits: high annual increment under short-rotation coppice; typical yields reported in the 8–15 t ha−1 yr−1 (air-dry) range for energy plantations in temperate zones.
• Phytoremediation: accumulation potential for selected metals; performance varies among clones and site conditions; removal depends on harvest and disposal protocols.
Standards and regulation:
• No species-specific product standards were identified. Commercial energy willow crops are typically contracted and quality-assured under national bioenergy frameworks (for example, sustainability and certification schemes applied by buyers in the EU bioenergy market).
Sustainability and sourcing:
• Planted as short-rotation coppice or willow farms on agricultural land; traditional willow craft industries source stems from managed willow beds. Environmental benefits include bank stabilization, habitat corridors, and low input requirements relative to other biomass crops. Yield and environmental services vary with clone selection, planting density, and management regime.
References:
• DEFRA (UK). 2011. Basket Willow Identification Guide.
•农业农村部. 2020. Energy and phytoremediation uses of short-rotation willow crops in China.
• Roz脦年低保 RIETZ. 1983. Energy Crops—Willow (Salix spp.)—A bibliographical listing.
• Krzy闃anowski. 2006. IEA Bioenergy Task 31: Short-rotation forestry—Biomass production and environmental effects. Energy yields reported in the 10–15 t ha−1 yr−1 (air-dry) range under typical European conditions for high-yielding clones (e.g., S. viminalis “Orm”).
• IEA Bioenergy Task 31 publications on biomass and environmental aspects of short-rotation willow in China.
• Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Gardening advice: Willow basketry (S. viminalis).
• FAO. 1983. Willows (Salix L.)—Selection criteria and utilization for baskets and crafts.
• Heller et al. 2003. Prospects for willow and poplar as bioenergy feedstock; review of biomass and environmental performance.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Salix virescens | Vill. | Hist. Pl. Dauphiné 3: 785 (1789) |
| Salix splendens | Nasarow | Fl. Ross. 5: 136 1936 |
| Salix strobilacea | (E.L.Wolf) Nasarow | Fl. URSS 5: 710 (1936) |
| Salix linearis | Turcz. | Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 27(1): 379. 1854 |
| Salix longifolia | Lam. | Fl. Franç. 2: 232 (1779) |
| Salix polia | C.K.Schneid. | Pl. Wilson. 3: 174 (1916) |
| Salix russica | Nasarow | Fl. URSS 5: 135 (1936) |
| Salix rufescens | Nasarow | Fl. Ross. 5: 137 1936 |
| Salix rossica | Nasarow | Fl. URSS 5: 135. 1936 |
| Salix serotina | Pall. | Reise Russ. Reich. 3: 759 (1776) |
| Diplima viminalis | (L.) Raf. | Alsogr. Amer. : 13 (1838) |
| Salix veriviminalis | Nasarow | Fl. URSS 5: 134. 1936 |
| Salix viminalis var. strobilacea | E.L.Wolf | Izv. Imp. Lesn. Inst. 13: 3 (1905) |
| Salix viminalis subsp. veriviminalis | Hyl. | |
| Salix viminalis var. semiviminalis | Poljakov |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | osier |
| English | common osier |
| English | basket willow |
| Spanish | sauce mimbró |
| Spanish | sauce mimbro |
| Spanish | mimbre |
| Spanish | mimbra |
| Spanish | mimbre blanca |
| Spanish | mimbre dorao |
| Spanish | mimbrera macho |
| Spanish | mimbron |
| Spanish | mimbrón |
| Spanish | sauce mimbre |
| Arabic | خلاف بري |
| Arabic | صفصاف السلالين |
| Azerbaijani | Çubuqşəkilli söyüd |
| Belarusian | лаза |
| Belarusian | лаза паўзрэчная |
| Belarusian | лаза руская |
| Belarusian | Лаза прырэчная |
| Bulgarian | Ракита |
| Catalan | vimer |
| Catalan | vimetera |
| Czech | vrba košařská |
| Czech | vrba košíkářská |
| Welsh | helygen wiail |
| Danish | bånd-pil |
| German | hanf-weide |
| German | hanfweide |
| German | korb-weide |
| German | korbweide |
| Esperanto | vimeno |
| Estonian | vitspaju |
| Basque | zume jator |
| Persian | بید سبدی |
| Finnish | koripaju |
| French | saule des vanniers |
| French | osier du vannier |
| French | osier vert |
| Irish | saileánach |
| Galician | vimieiro |
| Upper Sorbian | witkowa wjerba |
| Upper Sorbian | konopina |
| Icelandic | körfuvíðir |
| Italian | vinco |
| Cornish | owsyl |
| Lithuanian | Žilvitinis karklas |
| Lithuanian | Žilvitis |
| Latvian | klūdziņu kārkls |
| Macedonian | кошничарска врба |
| Norwegian Bokmål | kurvpil |
| Norwegian Bokmål | korgpil |
| Dutch | katwilg |
| Dutch | teenwilg |
| Polish | witwa |
| Polish | wierzba krzewiasta |
| Polish | konopianka |
| Polish | wierzba krzaczasta |
| Polish | wierzba energetyczna |
| Polish | wierzba wiciowa |
| Romanian | mlajă |
| Russian | Ива прутовидная |
| Russian | Белотал |
| Russian | Кузовица |
| Russian | ива блестящая |
| Russian | ива истинно-прутьевая |
| Russian | ива лозная |
| Russian | ива настоящая прутовидная |
| Russian | Ива корзиночная |
| Russian | Верболоз |
| Russian | ива полупрутовидная |
| Russian | ива русская |
| Russian | ива рыжеватая |
| Russian | ива шишковидная |
| Russian | Лоза |
| Samogitian | Žilvėtis |
| Slovenian | beka |
| Slovenian | beqaa |
| Slovenian | beqā |
| Slovenian | bekaa |
| Slovenian | bekā |
| Swedish | korgvide |
| Swedish | korgpil |
| Turkish | sepetçi söğüdü |
| udm | Корзинка бадь |
| Ukrainian | верба корзиночна |
| Ukrainian | Верба прутовидна |
| vec | salgaro |
| Chinese | 清钢柳 |
| Chinese | 绢柳 |
| Chinese | 蒿柳 |
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
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- Xinjiang
-
Middle Asia
- Kazakhstan
-
Mongolia
- Mongolia
-
Russian Far East
- Khabarovsk
-
Siberia
- Altay
- Buryatiya
- Irkutsk
- Krasnoyarsk
- Tuva
- West Siberia
- Yakutskiya
-
China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- West Himalaya
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Europe click to expand
-
Eastern Europe
- Baltic States
- Belarus
- Central European Russia
- East European Russia
- North European Russia
- Northwest European Russia
- Ukraine
-
Middle Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czechoslovakia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Switzerland
-
Northern Europe
- Denmark
- Finland
- Great Britain
- Ireland
- Norway
- Sweden
-
Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Italy
- Romania
- Turkey-in-Europe
- Yugoslavia
-
Southwestern Europe
- France
- Portugal
- Spain
-
Eastern Europe
-
Northern America click to expand
-
Eastern Canada
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Québec
-
North-central U.S.A.
- Iowa
-
Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
-
Eastern Canada
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Southern South America
- Argentina South
- Chile Central
- Chile South
-
Southern South America
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000929391 |
| Canadensys | 9170 |
| USDA Plants | SAVI2 |
| Tropicos | 28300206 |
| INPN | 120260 |
| Flora of Italy | 218 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:779152-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-5001961 |
| Plantarium | 33301 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 458851 |
| Observations.org | 7400 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 40686 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000003866 |
| Nature Serve | 2.132279 |
| IUCN Red List | 61960656 |
| IPNI | 779152-1 |
| iNaturalist | 55822 |
| GBIF | 5372933 |
| Freebase | /m/04qfc1 |
| EPPO | SAXVI |
| EOL | 584190 |
| Elurikkus | 7037 |
| USDA GRIN | 32783 |
| Wikipedia | Salix_viminalis |
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_965648455.1 | ddSalVimi1.hap1.1 | Chromosome | WELLCOME SANGER INSTITUTE | 2025-07-28 | 62 | 289.28 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.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Anthracenes / Anthraquinones | |||||
| Fragilin | 15559331 | Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C(=C1)O)C(=O)C3=C(C(=C(C=C3C2=O)OC)Cl)O | 318.71 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85563-6 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)81312-1 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acyl glycosides / Fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides | |||||
| 2-(Hydroxymethyl)-6-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoxy]oxane-3,4,5-triol | 72726663 | Click to see | 326.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00637167 |
| Sachaliside | 14048613 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CCOC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O)O | 312.31 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)81312-1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(86)88020-7 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961494 |
| Vimalin | 14048616 | Click to see | 326.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00637167 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Abscisic acids and derivatives | |||||
| (+)-Abscisic acid | 5375200 | Click to see CC1=CC(=O)CC(C1(C=CC(=CC(=O)O)C)O)(C)C | 264.32 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1038/220086A0 |
| (4E)-5-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-4-oxocyclohex-2-en-1-yl]-3-methylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid | 131954763 | Click to see | 264.32 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1038/220086A0 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| [2-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]methyl 1-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohex-2-ene-1-carboxylate | 133554354 | Click to see | 424.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(86)88020-7 |
| Picein | 92123 | Click to see | 298.29 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)88609-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)81312-1 |
| Salicortin | 115158 | Click to see | 424.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(86)88020-7 |
| Tremuloidin | 3083619 | Click to see | 390.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)81312-1 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acid esters / Coumaric acid esters | |||||
| Grandidentatin | 5281776 | Click to see C1CCC(C(C1)O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC3=CC=C(C=C3)O | 424.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)88609-4 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| Apigenin 7-O-glucoside | 5280704 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)86766-7 |
| Luteolin 7-galactoside | 5291488 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579659 |
| Luteolin 7-O-glucoside | 5280637 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00579659 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |