Salix purpurea lambertiana
(Sm.)A.Neumann.
Salicaceae
The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.
Common Name: Purple Osier
General Information
Salix purpurea lambertiana is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 5.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
17- Title
- Flora of the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
Europe, including Britain, from Belgium south and east to N. Africa, temperate Asia to Japan.
Habitat
Wet places in lowland areas[
13- Title
- Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Triska. Dr.
- Publisher
- Hamlyn
- Year
- 1975
- ISBN
- 0-600-33545-3
- Description
- Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore.
,
17- Title
- Flora of the British Isles.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1962
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
], preferring neutral or alkaline soils[
186- Title
- Planting Native Trees and Shrubs.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beckett. G. and K.
- Publisher
- Jarrold
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating |  |
Medicinal Rating |    |
Habit | Deciduous Tree |
Height | 5.00 m |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Pollinators | Bees |
Self-fertile | No |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Succeeds in most soils, including wet, ill-drained or intermittently flooded soils[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
], but prefers a damp, heavy soil in a sunny position[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants prefer an alkaline or neutral soil, rarely doing well in acid conditions[
186- Title
- Planting Native Trees and Shrubs.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beckett. G. and K.
- Publisher
- Jarrold
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants.
]. Said to prefer a sandy soil[
23- Title
- Complete Book of Baskets and Basketry.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Wright. D.
- Publisher
- David & Charles; Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
- 0-7153-7449-4
- Description
- Not that complete but very readable and well illustrated.
,
199- Title
- Willows - The Genus Salix.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Newsholme. C.
- Publisher
- Batsford
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0713468815
- Description
- A very readable book on the genus.
], plants are tolerant of dryish soils[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
]. Plants are tolerant of salt water[
199- Title
- Willows - The Genus Salix.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Newsholme. C.
- Publisher
- Batsford
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0713468815
- Description
- A very readable book on the genus.
].
A very ornamental plant[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
], it is cultivated for its branches which are used in basket making[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
], there are some named varieties[
131- Title
- Willows.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Warren-Wren. S. C.
- Publisher
- David & Charles; Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A readable guide to the willows.
]. Plants are coppiced annually for this purpose[
186- Title
- Planting Native Trees and Shrubs.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beckett. G. and K.
- Publisher
- Jarrold
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants.
]
A very important food plant for the caterpillars of many butterfly species[
30- Title
- Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Carter D.
- Publisher
- Pan
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- 0-330-26642-x
- Description
- An excellent book on Lepidoptera, it also lists their favourite food plants.
] and a good bee plant, providing an early source of nectar and pollen[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants should be put into their permanent positions as soon as possible[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Edible Uses
Inner bark - raw or cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and then added to cereal flour for use in making bread etc. A very bitter flavour, it is a famine food that is only used when all else fails[
172- Title
- Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Schofield. J. J.
- Publisher
- Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0882403699
- Description
- A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.
].
Young shoots - raw or cooked. They are not very palatable[
172- Title
- Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Schofield. J. J.
- Publisher
- Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska
- Year
- 2003
- ISBN
- 0882403699
- Description
- A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.
].
Medicinal
The bark is anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiperiodic, antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, sedative and tonic[
4- Title
- A Modern Herbal.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Grieve.
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0-14-046-440-9
- Description
- Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
,
9- Title
- Edible and Medicinal Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Launert. E.
- Publisher
- Hamlyn
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-600-37216-2
- Description
- Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
,
21- Title
- The Herb Book.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Lust. J.
- Publisher
- Bantam books
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- 0-553-23827-2
- Description
- Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
]. It is a very rich source of salicin, which is used in making aspirin[
199- Title
- Willows - The Genus Salix.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Newsholme. C.
- Publisher
- Batsford
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0713468815
- Description
- A very readable book on the genus.
]. The bark of this species is used interchangeably with S. alba. It is taken internally in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of auto-immune diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
]. The bark is removed during the summer and dried for later use[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
The leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses and colic[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
], cancerous sores and chronic dysentery[
218- Title
- Medicinal Plants of China
- Publication
-
- Author
- Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications, Inc.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-917256-20-4
- Description
- Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
]. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
The twigs are used in the treatment of cancer, dysentery and ulcers[
218- Title
- Medicinal Plants of China
- Publication
-
- Author
- Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications, Inc.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-917256-20-4
- Description
- Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
].
The bark of the stem and roots is anodyne and styptic[
218- Title
- Medicinal Plants of China
- Publication
-
- Author
- Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications, Inc.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-917256-20-4
- Description
- Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism[
218- Title
- Medicinal Plants of China
- Publication
-
- Author
- Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications, Inc.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-917256-20-4
- Description
- Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
].
Other Uses
The stems are very tough and flexible and are used in basket making[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
13- Title
- Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Triska. Dr.
- Publisher
- Hamlyn
- Year
- 1975
- ISBN
- 0-600-33545-3
- Description
- Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore.
,
23- Title
- Complete Book of Baskets and Basketry.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Wright. D.
- Publisher
- David & Charles; Newton Abbot.
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
- 0-7153-7449-4
- Description
- Not that complete but very readable and well illustrated.
,
115- Title
- The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Johnson. C. P.
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.
]. The plant is usually coppiced annually when grown for basket making, though it is possible to coppice it every two years if thick poles are required as uprights.
The bark is much disliked by rabbits, so a closely woven fence of this plant can be used as a protective barrier[
115- Title
- The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Johnson. C. P.
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.
].
Plants can be grown as a hedge[
29- Title
- Hedges and Screens.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Shepherd. F.W.
- Publisher
- Royal Horticultural Society.
- Year
- 1974
- ISBN
- 0900629649
- Description
- A small but informative booklet giving details of all the hedging plants being grown in the R.H.S. gardens at Wisley in Surrey.
]. Fast growing and very wind-resistant[
199- Title
- Willows - The Genus Salix.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Newsholme. C.
- Publisher
- Batsford
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0713468815
- Description
- A very readable book on the genus.
].
The plant has an extensive root system and is used in soil reclamation and stabilization projects along estuaries[
199- Title
- Willows - The Genus Salix.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Newsholme. C.
- Publisher
- Batsford
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0713468815
- Description
- A very readable book on the genus.
].
Propagation
Seed - must be surface sown as soon as it is ripe in late spring. It has a very short viability, perhaps as little as a few days.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, late autumn to late winter in a sheltered outdoor bed or planted straight into their permanent position and given a good weed-suppressing mulch. Very easy. Plant into their permanent positions in the autumn.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, early summer to August in a frame. Very easy.