Goat Willow
The
Goat Willow (
Salix caprea), also known as the
Pussy Willow or
Great Sallow is a common species of
willow native to
Europe and northwestern
Africa.
It is a
deciduous shrub or small
tree, reaching a height of 6-14 m, rarely to 20 m. The leaves are 5-12 cm long, and broader than most other willows, 3-8 cm wide. The
flowers are downlike 3-7 cm long catkins in early spring. The
seeds are very small (about 0.2 mm), and have fine hairs to aid in dispersal; they require bare soil to
germinate. Goat Willow is at home in both wet environments, such as riverbanks, and drier sites, wherever bare soil is available. Unlike almost all other willows, Goat Willow does not take root readily from cuttings; if a willow resembling a Goat Willow does root, it is probably a hybrid with another species of willow (hybrid willows are very frequent).
Both
tannin and
salicin can be extracted from Goat Willow bark. The tree is not considered a good source of timber as its wood is both brittle and known to crack violently if burned. Its
common name refers its spring foliage being a favoured forage item of
goats.
