Shon (Elegant Willow)

Salix denticulata (Elegant Willow)

Vernacular name: Shon (in Kinnauri)

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Click here to watch a short video about this species

Salix denticulata (commonly known as Elegant Willow and ‘Shon’ in Kinnauri) is a deciduous shrub endemic to the Himalayan region. It sometimes grows as a small tree, and is found in mountainous regions of Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, and China. The genus name Salix comes from the Celtic word sal lis, which means 'near water,' as many species of the genus require high moisture conditions to thrive. In the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), 24 species of the genus Salix are known, of which Salix denticulata (Shon) is the only one that can grow even in low moisture conditions.

Catkins of S. denticulata (Shon):

The flowers of Shon (S. denticulata) are usually presented as long, cylindrical flower clusters known as catkins. Catkins are usually single-sexed, meaning they are either male or female flower clusters. The male and female catkins differ in appearance, with the male catkins typically being longer, while the female catkins are shorter and more compact. The male catkins also fall off after pollination, while the female catkins stay intact to produce seeds. This trait may have evolved independently in many plant species to help the flowers trap more air between the individual flowers in the cluster, allowing them to survive severe night frosts. Another hypothesis is that these types of flower clusters enable plants to develop fully within the bud (precocious flowering), and bloom earlier than other plants, giving them a head start in attracting pollinators.

Uses:

• In Kinnaur, Shon is found abundantly near farmlands. To prevent it from spreading into cultivated areas, the shrub's branches are trimmed short to control its reproduction. These branches are then used as fodder and fuel wood.

• In traditional medicine:

  • In parts of Kashmir, the skin and bark of the shrub are boiled in water and used as a treatment for fever, headaches, and even paralysis.

  • A drink made from its leaves is used to treat inflammation and diarrhea.

References

• Manzoor, J., & Ali, B. (2017). Traditional use of medicinal plants: a report from Pahari Community of Subdivision Mendhar, district Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Medicinal Plants-International Journal of Phytomedicines and Related Industries, 9(3), 216-220.

• Cronk, Q. C., Needham, I., & Rudall, P. J. (2015). Evolution of catkins: Inflorescence morphology of selected Salicaceae in an evolutionary and developmental context. Frontiers in Plant Science, 6, 1030.

• Rawat, Y. S., & Vishvakarma, C. R. (2007). Contribution of willow in meeting bio-resources needs and land restoration in cold desert of the Lahaul valley, North-Western Himalaya, India. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on Environmental Science and Technology (ISEST 2007), Beijing, China (pp. 13-16).

Link to instagram video: https://www.instagram.com/saryanfoundation/reel/DHP0nZzzzRj/