The genus Salix, as recognised in 2019, is comprised of probably more than 300 distinct species (over 500 if you also accept hybrid species). Many of these species are very similar, sometimes being separated as much by native range as by any other characteristic. Hybridization between species is common, when this is coupled with the high genetic and morphological variability within many species, and different levels of ploidy, the complexity of this genus is clear.
Misidentification of specimens is not rare, even amongst botanists, and many records of plant use will often equally apply to one or more related species that were not seen as distinct when the report was made. Equally, several species not included in the database will be found to have a range of these uses. In general, all species in the genus have medicinal uses, especially as antiinflammatories, analgesics and febrifuges, they can all serve as emergency foods, many of them have flexible stems and can be used in basket making, and many of them can be planted in moist to wet conditions in order to stabilize the soil and improve wildlife habitats.

Common Name:

General Information

Salix tetrasperma is an evergreen (deciduous in semi-arid climates) shrub or small tree with more or less drooping branches; it can occasionally reach a height of 25 metres, though is usually considerably smaller. The bole is up to 100cm in diameter[].
Cultivated in southern China, India, Malaya and Java, especially for protecting the soil on the dikes of the rice-fields and on embankments of tanks and mines[].
Salix tetrasperma has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines

Habitat

Along water-courses, riverbanks, fringing streamsides and banks of pools and lakes, mostly in the lowlands, ascending in the Himalayas to elevations of 2,100 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	0.00 m

Cultivation Details

Flowers are found throughout the year; the secreted honey attracts insect-visitors[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The dried and powdered leaves are applied as a remedy[].

It is said to be used against fever; as a matter of fact the crystalline glucosid, salicin, occurs in many Salixes and
is a febrifuge[].

A decoction is used cold for ulceration of the nose[].
Apparently, no one has yet examined the bark for salicin[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Sometimes pollarded for forming fences to delimit field boundaries[].
In Malaya planted on the dikes of the rice-fields, and by Chinese on embankments of tanks and mines, apparently for protecting the soil, according to Burkill found in every village in some of the northern parts of the Peninsula. It is also sometimes pollarded for forming fences[].

Other Uses

The rods are used in basketry, the bark is employed for tanning purposes[].

An extract of the bark is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

Also a forest tree in India (yields soft timber and charcoal, good fuel wood)[].
In the Phillipines the timber is stated to be occasionally used for house-building purposes[].

Propagation

Seed -
Propagation is easy by cuttings[].

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