Tree family with largest number of species
Photo: Arne Ader
Translation: Liis
Willow catkins
| Willows | Pajud |
At Christmas and New Year we were enchanted by spruces. But today the remnants of the spruces that we brought indoors have burned to coal and ashes ...
When we long for spring we have looked to the willows for hundreds of years. In everyday talk bush-like willow species are often “pajud“ in Estonian and the tree-sized ones are “remmelgad“. There are at least twenty willow species in Estonia; some of them can hybridize between themselves, making the identification of species quite complicated at times.
It is midwinter but willow catkins can already be seen. Actually the catkins have been there under the catkin scale during the whole winter. The fur coat of silvery hairs protects these early spring flowerers from frost and desiccation.
It is customary to bring willow sprigs indoors and put in a vase – interesting too to see their development. Before the stamens become visible there is always the question – will the catkins turn yellow or stay white?
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