Goat Willow
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| Image:Salix caprea8.jpg Goat Willow male catkins
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| Salix caprea L. |
- For the song "Goat Willow" by Hawkwind, see Hall of the Mountain Grill
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 from 3-8 cm wide, broader than most other willows. The flowers are down-like 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 a frequent occurrence).
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 crackle violently if burned. Its common name refers to its spring foliage being a favoured forage item of goats.
[edit] Trivia
- In The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Imogene Herdman gets the part of Mary for the Christmas Pageant from Alice Wendlekin by threatening to stick a pussy willow down her ear. The author then goes on to explain that Ollie Herdman stuck one down his own ear, got an earache, and had to be taken to the hospital, put under, and have the sprouted pussywillow dug out of his ear.
- In an episode of Roseanne, Roseanne reminds Jackie of a time in their childhood when she made Jackie shove a pussywillow up her nose and had to go to the emergency room.
- In 'The Sound of Music' when Marta is asked what one of her favourite things are, she replies 'Pussy Willow' (during the song "My Favourite Things")
[edit] See also
List of Lepidoptera which feed on Willows
da:Selje-Pil de:Sal-Weide et:Raagremmelgas fr:Saule marsault is:Selja (tré) lt:Blindė nl:Boswilg no:Selje (tre) nn:Selje pl:Wierzba iwa fi:Raita sv:Sälg uk:Верба козяча
