Purple Willow 🌳🌿

The purple willow (Salix purpurea, family Salicaceae) is a shrub that grows 3-4 meters tall.
It thrives along rivers and streams, and can even grow in the damp sands of riverbeds that are periodically flooded. It is found from lowlands up to altitudes of 1800 meters.
Its branches are long and slender, while the leaves are lance-shaped and measure 4-12 cm in length. It can easily be confused with other willow species, with which it often shares its habitat.
The flowers 🌸 are inconspicuous, grouped in catkins, and appear in early spring. They are one of the first sources of nectar and pollen for bees 🐝 during the season.
Together with other species, the red willow is used in environmental restoration projects for its ability to stabilize unstable soils.
⁉️ Did you know? 😲
As with all willows, the bark and leaves contain the glycoside salicin, which makes them toxic to many animals. Salicin is also the precursor to salicylic acid, from which aspirin 💊 is derived.
Photo Willow, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons