Two main species (Sandbar “hindsiana” and Arroyo “lasiolepis”) were used. But where other species were found, they too were part of Tongva plant life.

Medicinal: Willows contain “salicin” from which aspirin is derived.

The roots were made into a decoction for diarrhea and fever. A thick tea was made to produce vomiting to purge the body of “infected blood”. This purging was sometimes fatal.

The leaves and flowers were made into a mild tea for colds and an infusion was made for diarrhea. A mild tea was steeped for sore throats, general aches and pains, and fevers. Leaves combined with bark, twigs, and roots were turned into a tea, into powders, washes, and poultices for swellings, fever, infections, and bleeding. Leaves produced a wash for sore eyes.

The bark was made into a poultice for skin eruptions. It was boiled and spread on itching skin and on bleeding cuts. Bark was made into a decoction for fevers and for asthma. A tea was made for headaches and the bark was also chewed for toothaches. The inner bark was used to treat urethra and bladder irritability. The stems with the roots and bark were poulticed for swellings, fever, infections, and bleeding.

Construction: The great branches and trunks provided the Tongva with the basic material for house construction, for granaries and for “sweat” buildings. Although the willow was rarely used for basketry, young shoots were used for cradleboards, seed beaters, and fish traps.

Other: Leaves were also dried and used as tobacco.

Warning: the tea from roots was often fatal.

Tree or large shrub.

Blossoming for hindsiana March to May.

S. hindsiana can be found along ditches and sandbars below 3000 ft.; many cismontane communities. S. lasiolepis is common along streams, below 7000 ft.; cismontane Plant Communities; occasionally found in the desert.