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Willow, Black Americanotanical: Salyx nigra (MARCH)Family: N.O. Salicaceae Synonym: Pussy Willow. Parts Used: Bark, berries. Habitat: America (New York and Pennsylvania).
Description: A tree growing on banks of rivers up to 15 to 25 feet high, with a rough blackish bark. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, pointed, tapering at each end, serrulate, smooth, and green on both sides, petioles and midveins tomentose. Stipules small, decuduous, dentate; aments erect, cylindric, villous. Scales oblong, very villous. Sterile aments 3 inches long, glands of sterile flowers two large and deeply two or three cleft. Stamens four to six, often but three in the upper scales, filaments bearded at base. Ovary pedicillate, smooth, ovoid. Style very short, stigmas bifid. Constituents: The bark contains tannin and about 1 per cent of Salinigrin, a white crystalline glucoside soluble in water and alcohol. Medicinal Action and Uses: An aphrodisiac sedative, tonic. The bark has been prescribed in gonorrhoea and to relieve ovarian pain; a liquid extract is prepared and used in mixture with other sedatives. Largely used in the treatment of nocturnal emissions. Fluid extract, 1/2 to 1 drachm.
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