GOOD TREES – BAD TREES? 2

Weeping Willow - Stanthorpe

It is winter now on the Granite Belt and most of the Weeping Willows have dropped their leaves.

This is a tree much favoured around the world for its lush green foliage. It is frequently planted in parks. But, in Australia it is  classified in some areas as a noxious weed.  Read what I have say about these trees and please add your comments.

The Willow tree originated in China and spread via the Silk Road to Egypt and through Europe to reach England.

The Weeping Willow is a beautiful tree to use for large yards and has a number of interesting aspects. You might be surprised to learn it is a medicinal tree as well.

The Weeping Willow tree is a member of a family of trees and scrubs that contains over three hundred and fifty different varieties. The varieties of willows have many widely different characteristics, but they are all remarkably alike in many ways. Most of them occur in moist soil in cooler climates and mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. Willows are remarkably fertile trees and easily cross fertilize between species. These occur naturally or as the result of deliberate cultivation.

The Weeping Willow is what is called a cultivar. This is a type of tree sharing similar characteristics that results from the cross fertilization of two species. In the case of the Weeping Willow, the original “parents” were the Chinese Peking Willow and the European White Willow. The Chinese Peking Willow hangs straight down, whereas the Weeping Willow has a wider canopy.

Chinese Willows at Lijiang China

Weeping Willows, like most willows will easily take root from cuttings or fallen branches. There is a story that the English poet, Alexander Pope, once begged a twig from a packet of twigs that were sent to a certain Lady Suffolk from Spain. He planted this twig and it grew and thrived. The legend claims that every Weeping Willow in England today is a direct descendant of this original twig.

Weeping Willows are often planted along waterways because their thick roots form a protective barrier against erosion from the activity of the water.

Willow tree in waterbird habitat

However, these beautiful and popular trees are not always welcome World travelers. Weeping Willows were extensively planted along Australia’s waterways, but were recently declared an “invasive weed” by Australian authorities who are attempting to replace them with native species.

The most interesting thing about the Weeping Willow and its willow family cousins is it medicinal history. Cultures as far back as Mesopotamian recognized and wrote about the medical uses of willow bark. Early American cultures also discovered that willow bark had medical uses and the most common one was in the relief of pain and inflammation. In the 18th Century, the active extract in the bark was isolated. It was a substance called salicin. When salicin is in solution in water it is very acidic. This acid is called salicylic acid. Just before the start of the 20th Century, a chemist created a substance based on salicylic acid that was not as tough on the stomach. This substance was ultimately named aspirin. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Weeping-Willow—An-Overview&id=774589

In a politically correct environmental way of thinking the Weeping Willow trees should be removed from all National Parks. Yet, since the time of settlement of Australia these trees were often planted for a purpose – to soak up water and to prevent erosion. There are people who believe that the dreadful landslide which claimed lives at Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains National Park resulted because Weeping Willow trees were removed from a wet site above the ski resort, which then allowed water to build up and cause the slip.

Upright growing willows

In my garden I have preferred to grow another of the willow cultivars, this tall upright species.

When we first moved to The Granite Belt in 1992 several of these trees had been planted at The Bramble Patch Berry Gardens. In recent times I have observed that a row of these trees near the shop were reduced to fence height.  The trunks sent out masses of side shoots and now this is an attractive thick hedge, which no longer drops leaves on the roof of the shop.

I planted my row of trees to soak up moisture from a drain and allow them to grow tall as they also provide wonderful afternoon shade for the rear of my vegetable garden during our hot summer days. Where mine are situated, leaf drop is not a problem.

Weeping Willow clump

This is an example of Weeping Willows forming a clump in a waterway of The Granite Belt.

In such a situation they are surely a weed, encouraging blackberries, honeysuckle, privet and other weeds to grow amongst them. It is for such reasons that environmentalists consider they should be removed from all Australian water courses. It is also thought that they contribute to flooding by hindering the flow of water in our streams.

There is a different point of view. Such trees as this clump of Weeping Willows do serve a useful purpose. Last year when reading Peter Andrew’s book Back From the Brink, it made me take a good look at their benefit to the environment. See posts on the subject of shade and erosion in my archives for November 2009.  Peter maintains that until the colonial settlement of Australia our rivers spread out their water and ran above ground in times of flood, thus allowing water to soak beneath the surface of the soil and gradually move down to the lowest point. Following settlement and the clearing of land around watercourses the storm rain was forced into channels, cutting its way into ever deeper streams, thus forcing water into rivers, resulting in the severe flooding we encounter today.

Peter maintains that trees like the Weeping Willows not only hold the soil to prevent erosion they encourage grass, weeds and other debris to build up thus once more forcing flood waters to spill out over the land where it can soak into the subsoil while silt adds fertility to the flood plains. Furthermore Peter said that we should be growing such shady trees as Weeping Willows beside our dams and watercourses to shade our waterholes and thus prevent summer evaporation. He maintained that their roots would suck up much less water than would be lost to evaporation on a sunny day. During the cooler months of the year these trees loose their leaves and their growth becomes dormant, at which time they require no water.

What do you think? Are the Weeping Willows which have been introduced into Australia and now flourish along the streams of The Granite Belt a weed? Should they be removed?

For further information concerning environmental concerns about the willow trees here is a site offering extensive information. http://www.hoadley.net/cremer/willows/docs/WillowInBiodiversity.pdf

Wildflowers, wilderness and wine

In my book Wildflowers, wilderness and wine I share other insights concerning the National Parks and wilderness areas of the Granite Belt. See http://www.australia-book.com.au to read more.

Presently I am sharing with you for free chapters of another book I have written called The Forgotten Ones where I recount conversations I had with Eberhard concerning his early year in  Germany. http://fayhelwigauthor.com