Our most species-rich family of trees

Photo: Arne Ader
Translation: SilverT
 
Willow buds
 
Willows     Pajud       Salix
 
We spent the Christmas and the New Year in the spell of the spruce. What was left of the spruces, which were brought inside have been burnt in fire sculptures by now...
 
In the wait for the spring, we have paid our attention to the willows for hundreds of years. In the Estonian spoken language, „paju“ (willow) usually refers to the shrub-sized tree and larger trees are called „remmelgas“ (also willow). Our nature contains at least twenty species of willows; some of them are able cross-breed, which means it can be quite difficult to determine the species of some willows even for the experts.
 
We are going through mid-winter, but one can already notice catkins on willows. The catkins have been hiding under the scales of the buds for the entire winter. The „coat“, lined with silver hairs protects the early-spring bloomers from cold and drying.
 
We have the tradition of putting willow branches in a vase – it`s nice to observe their development. It`s almost always a mystery whether the catkins in the vase turn yellow or stay white – until the stamens appear.


 

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