Scouler’s Willow (Salix Scouleriana)

Nomenclature

Scouler’s Willow (Salix Scouleriana) is a subspecies of willow and a native perennial plant of western north America. Scouler’s willow is commonly referred to as upland willow, black willow, Nuttal willow, mountain willow and fire willow. It is related to the northern Willow, or commonly known as Alaska willow or felt-leaved willow (Willows 2014). It grows quickly and provides nutritional forage for many species (Scouler’s Willow 2018). There are six recognized varieties of Scouler’s willow: brachystachys, coetanea, crassijulis, flavescens, poikila, and thompsonii. It is commonly referred to as the fire willow because it is an early successional species that propagates after forest fires (Willows 2014).

Figure 1. Distinguishing fuzzy, single bud scale between leaf stalk and twig on Scouler’s Willow plant.

Distribution & Habitat

Scouler’s willow is presently found in north American states and provinces such as Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon (USDA). Scouler’s willow is a woody, deciduous tree that grows between 2-20 meters. This plant thrives in areas where it can easily disperse its wind-carried seeds (Willows 2014). This plant is an early successional species that thrives in recently disturbed areas such as land clearings, burned areas, and avalanches. It is present in dry-moist thickets, wetlands, riparian zones, valley grasslands, chaparral, open forests and low subalpine areas (Willows 2014).  Currently, there are no conservation or special statuses for this species due to its stable distribution across western North America (USDA).

Figure 2. The rounded, sage colored leaves of Scouler’s willow.

Ethnobotany

The flowers of Scouler’s Willow bloom in March-April, but the tree’s bark and leaves can be used once the tree is mature (3-4 years). Scouler's Willow has been used by native communities for various purposes. Its bark has been used for specific hunting and fishing purposes such as traps, snares, fishline, and nets. Its flexible bark and roots are commonly cut into strips for weaving baskets for functional purposes related to food and storage. In some indigenous communities, their wood has been used to make percussion instruments. Scouler’s willow bark is commonly cut into thin strips for hanging fish for cooking. Smoked fish, particularly salmon, was preserved by slowly burning willow trees over long periods of time. The most common uses of this plant are related to medicine. Across north America, the bark has been used as a tea to treat fevers, headaches, arthritis, pain and other inflammatory related ailments. When the bark is placed on an open cut, it is effective in reducing harmful bacteria from spreading and slowing down bleeding. The bark contains three important phenol glycosides which have been synthesized to the create the commonly used household medicine known as Aspirin (Smith et al. 1981).  

References

Scouler's Willow (Salix scouleriana). (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2018, from https://mpgnorth.com/field-guide/salicaceae/scouler-willow

USDA. (n.d.). Salix scouleriana Barratt ex Hook. Retrieved November 23, 2018, from https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=sasc

Willows. (2014, September 24). Retrieved November 23, 2018, from http://nativeplantspnw.com/willows/