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Willows by Chad Carson Willows belong to the family Salicaceae which is divided into two genera. Salix contains willows and Populus contains aspens. Genus Salix contains about 300 species and about 70 are native to North America. Willows grow in cool, temperate climates often near streams and wetlands. They come in both tree and shrub varieties. Their leaves are long and slender and grow out of the sides of the twigs. There are no real terminal buds either. Many willows produce their flowers during early spring. Genus Salix has many different species. The black willow or Salix nigna is a tree-type willow that can grow about 50 to 60 feet. It may have multiple trunks of up to three feet wide. The peachleaf willow or Salix amygdaloides is a short tree of 10 to 35 feet. The weeping willow or Salix babylonica is an oriental tree with long drooping branches. The pussy willow or Salix discolor is shrub-type willow that is well known for its beautiful flowers. Willows are often used as decorative plants. The pussy willow and weeping willow are commonly used as decoration. The bark of willows contains salicylic acid which is the raw ingredient of aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid. The name salicylic acid is derived from the willow genus name Salix. Aspirin of course is used both as a pain killer and a blood thinner. The willows are mostly associated with death and rebirth in many different cultures. The long branches of many willows resemble a cascade of tears. These are associated with the grief of a mourner. In the orient, the willow’s early flowing symbolizes the rebirth that happens after winter. Some once believed that a willow would continue to grow no matter how many of its branches were cut off. Also it was said that if a branch of a willow were placed in the ground a new tree would grow. It would be a symbolic representation of a soul ascending into the afterlife. The willow was a common motif on grave monuments in 19th century North America and Britain. Written spring 2004, as a service learning project for Dr. Gary Coté's Biology 102 class at Radford University. Copyright Pathways for Radford. |
