Wonderful Willow Mystery Cache

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When we think of weeping willow trees, scientifically known as Salix babylonica, we think of long, drapey branches and a day by the water. But behind the peaceful beauty of the weeping willow is one of the world’s most unique trees.

A cross between the Peking Willow and the White Willow, the weeping willow usually stands about thirty to forty feet tall with a slim, grayish brown trunk and its famous canopy of pale green leaves. Originally from China, the weeping willow is one of the fastest growing trees; beginning either as a seed or from another weeping willow’s leaves or twigs. Though we usually think of them growing by water, they are easily adaptable to about any environment in the Northern Hemisphere with its tough roots and thick bark which makes it a wonderful tree for Colorado’s weather. To many people's surprise it lives no more than seventy five years.

Besides being a good climbing tree and giving us shade, the weeping willow has some amazing qualities. Though nowhere near delicious, different parts of it can be eaten when prepared in a certain way, and surprisingly, provide some nutrition. The inner bark can be eaten raw, though it might be a hair better if cooked, as well as being ground into a powder and mixed with flour for baking purposes. Young leaves are also perfectly safe to eat, raw or cooked, and older ones can be used for tea. While weeping willow leaves are nobody's idea of a great dinner, they are better than going hungry.

The spring green leaves of the gorgeous willow can be used for many medicinal purposes, some being a treatment for a kind of bleeding called abscesses as well as fevers and skin disease. And though none of us ever think of it, the down of the weeping willows seeds can treat bleeding, jaundice and rheumatism. Especially for people in poorer places of the world who can’t afford expensive medicine they sure can make good use of weeping willow trees!

And yet that's not it for the weeping willow tree’s magical qualities. It’s wood can also be used for many purposes including lumber, boxes and other wooden objects. Its stems are surprisingly flexible and can be used to make baskets.

Though they are not vital in our ecosystem we certainly are lucky to have these beautiful, remarkable trees! The letter k equal one. Being a tree the weeping willow tree doesn't have many predators. Sadly, it is prone to many fungi one being rust fungus; a kind of fungus that appears on the bottom of the weeping willows leaves and dries the leaves out (Willow Tree Fungus). Elk, deer and moose also enjoy eating the weeping willows leaves. Yum! Yum!

As for its own food, the weeping willow, like most other trees and plants, fuels itself using a process called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a process where carbon dioxide and water combine to make oxygen. Willows can grow very quickly, as fast as 10 feet per year. Like many non-wooded plants, part of its stem can be cut, placed in water, and cloned. Within 15-20 days, new roots will start forming in the water.  These can then be planted back into soil.

Getting down to taxonomy, the weeping willow’s domain is eukarya, kingdom is plantae, phylum is vascular plant, order is malpighiales, genus is salix (hence it’s scientific name) and its species is Salix Alba L. Within the genus Salix there are over 400 unique species. Most of these species are relatively large, but the dwarf willow Salix herbacea, rarely exceeds 6 cm. The largest willow species can get up to 70 feet high.

As you can see the weeping willow tree is truly unique. It is so much more than just the gorgeous tree with the long sweeping canopy that is the final touch to your day on the water. I plan to encourage my parents to plant one of these magical trees, and I hope that after reading this you might consider purchasing one as well.