Bitter willow
The bitter willow (Salix eleagnos) is a small tree that grows to a height of 7-8 meters, sometimes reaching 15 meters. It lives along rivers and streams, occasionally even in the damp sands of riverbeds that are periodically flooded. It can be found from the plains up to 1800 meters in elevation. Its branches are long and slender, and its leaves are lanceolate, measuring 6-12 cm in length. It can be easily confused with other willow species.
The flowers are inconspicuous and clustered in catkins, appearing in March-April, and they constitute one of the first sources of food for bees , which extract nectar and pollen from them.
Did you know?
As in all willows, the bark and leaves contain the glycoside salicin, which makes them toxic to many animals. Salicin is the source of salicylic acid, from which aspirin is derived.
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Photo AnRo0002, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons