Russian olive - wood with cherry fibre and ash pores

Until they show me Radu Vădan the wood in his storeroom, I thought willow is short for willow. But we discovered a species with a beautifully colored and patterned wood, perfect for bowls, frames, jewelry and other such objects. From an industrial point of view, it is of no interest because it rarely grows to very large sizes, being more of a shrub. However, it is appreciated by wood enthusiasts around the world, especially as the trunk sometimes has burrs, which makes the wood more spectacular. As well as the pleasing appearance for which it is planted in parks and private gardens, the willow is also a popular herbal remedy, with beneficial effects in treating ulcers, infections and rheumatoid arthritis recognized by medical studies.

Willows, willow, fragrant willow, Russian olive and many other names

Scented willow, Russian olive, wild olive, wild olive, Turkish olive, honey willow, bear honey are the names by which the honey willow is known - Elaeagnus angustifolia - in different parts of the country. In English it is called russian olive, wild olive, silver berry or oleasterin Italian is olive tree, Bohemian olive tree, silver tree, in French olivie de Boheme, arbre d'argent, arbre du Paradis or olinet and ölwide or schmalblätrige ölweide in German. He's part of the Elaeagnaceaelike the buckthorn. The names willow or măslin are related to the similarity of the leaves and fruit to these species, but botanically they are completely different.

Willow is native to south-eastern Europe and central and western Asia, from Iran, Afghanistan, southern Russia and Kazakhstan to Turkey, Pakistan and India. It is a soil-fixing species and has been acclimatized for this purpose in various countries. This is how it arrived in the late 19th century in the USA where, because of its rapid growth and spread, it is now considered invasive in many areas. It is hardy at both high and low temperatures, thriving even in nutrient-poor soils provided they are well drained. Planting in parks and gardens prevents waterlogging.

In nature it grows spontaneously, not far from water, in floodplains, but also in dry riverbeds at altitudes below 2000 m. It is very wind-resistant and tolerates temporary flooding well. It can fix nitrogen in the soil.

Tree or shrub?

I cannot give you a very clear answer to this question. Some sources consider it to be a small tree, others a shrub. In any case, there are specimens that can reach 10-12 m in height, sometimes even more, and the trunk can reach half a meter in diameter. It is a deciduous, deciduous species. It is cultivated in parks and gardens for its silvery foliage and the very pleasant, honey-like scent the flowers give off in late spring. The trunk and branches are covered with a brown, exfoliating bark, which looks particularly attractive in winter. The roots extend into the soil, hence the soil-fixing ability. That's why it is also used to bind up spoil heaps.

The leaves are willow-like, elongate-ovate, 3-5 cm long, green on the front and silvery on the back. In fall they remain on the branches until late. The branches have strong, sharp thorns, 7 mm to 3 cm long. The flowers are small, petal-less, 4-lobed, yellow to cream. They appear on leaf axils in late spring, sometimes in clusters of 2-3 flowers, and have a very pleasant, strong, honey-like and nectar-like scent. They are therefore an attraction for bees. The fruits are small, olive-like, silvery orange-brown in color, edible and sweet, highly prized by birds, but also in countries such as Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan.

Willow - properties, characteristics

In cross-section through the willow trunk the difference between the sapwood and the heartwood is clearly visible. The sapwood is thin, very light yellowish-white in color. The color of the heartwood varies from yellowish-brown to dark golden brown, sometimes with shades of greenish and even light purple-grey. After cutting, the color of the heartwood darkens to a reddish-yellow, but the sapwood does not turn yellow, retaining its original hue.

It is a very porous wood with a fine and uniform texture. Radu Vădan says it's similar cherry texture and frasinlike pores. Sometimes, due to growing conditions, the fiber is twisted. The annual rings are very conspicuous due to the annular arrangement of the pores. In early wood the pores are arranged in 5-10 rows in a circle and are medium to large in size. Pores in latewood are much fewer, solitary, medium to small. Sometimes they have inside tile. The medullary rays are quite wide and visible to the naked eye. The anhydrous density is 685 kg/m³ and Janka hardness 5500 N.

Most people who have worked with sarsaparilla say that it is quite difficult to dry, with cracking and sometimes warping of the elements, but there are exceptions. Some sources say that in a wet state it works well, but has an unpleasant odor that disappears after drying. It has very low fungal resistance and low to medium durability. It works well mechanically and by hand, carves easily. It can be turned, but large-volume pieces vibrate and very thin-walled objects cannot be obtained. It is sanded, sanded, and finished well. When finishing, because of the many large pores it absorbs a lot of material in the first coat. To make a closed-pore finish many coats must be applied.

Used to make bowls, pens and electric guitars

Because it is neither a tree grown for exploitation nor a large tree, its use is limited to small, decorative objects. Those who are lucky enough to find larger wood also use it for furniture and even special projects such as making an electric guitar. Because of its beautiful colors and special pore-line pattern, it is used for decorative objects, mirror frames, jewelry boxes and even jewelry. The boils (magnifying glass) of the savory are used to make special objects.

Willow wood burns well, but it must be well dried for at least a year. Otherwise it burns with sparks and gives off an unpleasant odor. Well dried, it can be used in stoves or open fireplaces where it burns slowly, gives off little smoke, has a pleasant aroma and gives off heat for a long time. The calorific value is close to that of ash. It splits better when green, dry and hard to cut, especially if the logs are larger.

Well dried, it can also be used for smoking food, giving it a subtle, fruity, slightly sweet flavor. The smoke from burning the charcoal goes well with pork, lamb, poultry, seafood, pizza or vegetables. It can be mixed with bittering wood to temper the sweet taste.

Because it frequently populates public parks and gardens, the wood comes mainly from grooming. When not done correctly, this can lead to the willow becoming infected with fungus, making it less resistant to such attacks. The trunk is eaten on the inside, dries out and has to be cut off. Unfortunately, such a trunk can hardly be used because it is hollow inside. But it is a good source for those who combine wood with epoxy resin.

Willow fruit - remedy for rheumatoid arthritis and kidney stones

In ancient Iran, a decoction of elderberries was used against fever, asthma, infections or rheumatoid arthritis. The dried powder of the fruit, mixed with milk, is still a remedy for rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain. There is evidence to support that some elderberry products have efficacy comparable to ibuprofen. In traditional Turkish medicine, elderberries are renowned as a tonic, antipyretic or as a treatment for kidney disorders (anti-inflammatory treatment and/or kidney lithiasis).

Savory is traditionally used as a remedy for ulcers or gastric disorders. It has been used experimentally, with promising results, for applications in malignancies, ulcers, gastric problems and as a bactericide. A well-documented study on the beneficial effects of savory can be found here.

I hope you find the above information useful. As always, additions are welcome. And if you have any questions or queries, please leave them below in the space provided. I will be sure to reply.

Cover photo: bowl of willow, Radu Vădan