Willow tree

Willow tree

Scientific name: Salix spp. (esp. Salix babylonica)

Family: Salicaceae

Common name: Willow / Weeping Willow

🔹 Uses

Bark → salicin (source of aspirin, pain relief)

Branches → basket weaving, fences

Wood → cricket bats, plywood, fuel

Traditional animal remedies

🔹 Ecological Role

Provides dense shade

Roots prevent soil erosion along rivers

Habitat for bird nesting

Fast carbon sequestration

Regulates water in wetlands

🔹 Fun Facts

Called the “Tree of Sorrow” (drooping branches)

Bark used in medicine for thousands of years

Grows easily near water bodies

Regenerates from cut branches

🔹 Cultural Significance

China → symbol of immortality, rebirth

Europe → symbol of grief, mourning (cemeteries)

India (Kashmir) → used in crafts & cricket bats

Widely present in literature & poetry

👉 Willow = Medicinal, ecological protector, and cultural symbol of both grief & resilience.