A large shrub or a small tree, up to 10 m high and 1.2 m in girth. Bark dark grey or yellowish brown; leaves variable, broadly ovate to oblong-orbicular; flowers in catkins, male catkins sweet-scented.

As an anodyne and febrifuge (bark); aphrodisiac, cordial and stimulant (flowers)

Plants for a Future
Salix caprea

Saligenin, (±)-gallocatechin, rutin, and quercetin (leaves);

For fevers (leaves); headaches and ophthalmia (flowers). A gum and the juice of the trees are used to increase visual powers.

Sharma PV. Classical Uses of Medicinal Plants.