About UsNewsMeetingsField TripsYNCPublicationsLinksContact UsHome

Knowing Nature . . .

Pussy Willows - An Early Sign of Spring

February 9, 2007
Jocie Ingram

Pussy Willow - early male catkin photo © Dave Ingram

In early February, when spring is still a ways off, it is heartening to find branches studded with furry, silver-tipped pussy willows. Every year, my mother snips off a few twigs and arranges them in a vase. The maroon coloured twigs contrast decoratively with the silvery buds. It is a happy reminder that spring is coming.

Pussy willows are actually the earliest stage of male catkins produced by willow trees. The thick, silvery hairs protect the newly forming male reproductive parts from the adversities of winter weather. Willows typically have separate male and female trees, a condition known as dioecious.

By March, the male pussy willow catkins produce a spray of yellow, pollen-tipped stamens. At the base of each stamen a drop of nectar is produced, providing an early spring feast for insects, which inadvertently spread the pollen to female catkins. Though insects provide some assistance, willow pollen is distributed largely by wind.

Pussy Willow - later male catkin photo © Dave Ingram

Later in spring, new green leaves begin to transform the willow tree into its lush summer plumage. The fertilized female catkins mature and eventually split, releasing hundreds of seeds. Each seed has a tuft of cottony hairs, and is blown away by the wind.This chain of events can be easily observed by visiting the pussy willow tree from now through to the summer.

Willows favour a wet habitat, often in swamps or bordering lakes and rivers. They prefer open places with plenty of sunlight. They may grow into quite large trees, but many species are more shrub-like. In the mountains, dwarf, ground-covering species may be found. BC has many species of willow, which are notoriously difficult to identify. Some have leaves that are grey and hairy, while others are smooth and green. Leaf shape also varies, some are long and pointed, and others are egg-shaped.

Willows are cultivated in many gardens. Most familiar is the weeping willow (Salix babylonica), commonly planted in city parks, which was introduced from China via Europe. Roots of willows can be very invasive, so gardeners should take care when planting them.

The white willow (Salix alba), native to Europe and Asia is one of the most medicinally important trees in the world. The bark of white willow contains salicylic acid, the precursor to modern Aspirin. Use of willow bark to ease pain and inflammation date back thousands of years in ancient Egypt and China. Hippocrates, a Greek physician who lived around 400 BC, left records of treatments used from willow bark and leaves.

The pill form of aspirin wasn't developed until much later. In the mid 1700's a British physician, Edmund Stone sought a cure for Malaria. Experimenting with white willow bark near his home, he noted that willow bark tea reduced pain and fever. By 1829 scientists had discovered it was the compound salicin in willow bark that caused pain relief.

Having isolated salicylic acid, the next step was to "buffer" the acid, which was tough on stomachs. French chemist CF Gerhardt neutralized salicylic acid in 1853 by buffering it with sodium and acetyl chloride, creating acetylsalicylic acid. The process of making acetylsalicylic acid was lengthy, and the product was impure. Gerhardt eventually abandoned his work.

Many years passed before German chemists working for a company called Bayer rediscovered Gerhardt's formula. Synthetic acetylsalicylic acid was successfully produced in 1897, and patented as Aspirin in 1899. In a few years, it was the most popular drug on the planet. Sold as a powder at first, it wasn't until 1915 that the first tablets were produced.

Today, herbalists still prescribe treatments from willow bark, which some claim has fewer side effects than synthetic aspirin. People with asthma, diabetes, gastrointestinal problems and women who are pregnant should avoid willow bark remedies. It is always best to consult with a physician or herbalist.

The new, silvery pussy willows of February delight us and our children. But this tree is worth a look through all the seasons. We might notice a bee landing on a catkin of pollen-covered stamens, the graceful greenery of a willow in full summer, or even the attractive pattern of bare branches in the winter months. At the very least, we should appreciate that without this tree, life would have a lot more headaches!