# white willow

*Salix alba*

The bark contains salicin, a chemical compound that served as the ancient precursor to modern aspirin.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Malpighiales › Salicaceae › Salix
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** wetland
- **Habitat:** Riparian zones, riverbanks, lake margins, and damp floodplains.
- **Diet:** Photosynthetic (sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide).
- **Range:** Europe, Western Asia, Central Asia, North Africa
- **Size:** Height up to 25m; trunk diameter up to 1m.
- **Lifespan:** 40 to 60 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** River channelization, drainage of wetlands, and displacement by invasive species.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless and safe to approach. Be cautious when standing beneath mature trees during high winds, as they are known for 'dropping' heavy, brittle branches. Do not ingest bark without expert knowledge.

## About

Salix alba ( white willow ) is a species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia. The name derives from the white tone to the undersides of the leaves.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/0602ce22-1fd3-48e7-a545-9e5cc537bc0c
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/54841
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salix alba
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/4791934/medium.jpg (Andreas Rockstein, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.