Salix babylonica
Specifications
Family
Salicaceae
Species
Salix babylonica L.
weeping willow
Description
White or slightly pink, with a fine, regular texture, a volumetric weight between 0.40 and 0.50, very short-lived and with poor mechanical resistance.
Plant morphology
It is a deciduous, dioecious tree, 10-15 m tall, with a relatively short growth and lifespan. The branches are pendulous and thin, a characteristic enhanced in ornamental varieties, with a downy growth habit. The leaves are spirally arranged, light green, narrow, and long, pointed, with finely serrated edges, turning golden yellow in autumn. The flowers, like all willows, are grouped in catkins, appearing early in spring, with male and female flowers on separate individuals. The fruits are capsules, containing many small seeds, each with a tuft of white hairs.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Temperate regions of China; in Europe it is grown as an ornamental.
Habitat and ecology
It prefers light, deep soils with good water availability.
Uses
Application areas
Used for clogs, agricultural tools, it provides charcoal for gunpowder.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Not obvious
Texture
Fine
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
400
kg/m3