Willow

Willow trees are generally native to northern temperate regions, mostly deciduous, and are usually found growing in wet ground, alongside rivers and streams.

Willows are shade tolerant and short lived. Weeping Willows are native to China and East Asia. Willow wood has a variety of uses including basket making, wicker furniture, boxes, brooms, and perhaps most famously, cricket bats.

Willow bark has medicinal properties, and has been used throughout history to treat pain, in particular, low back pain, osteoarthritis, headache, and some inflammatory conditions. The active medicinal ingredient in the willow bark is called "salicin", and is sometimes used as an alternative to asprin.

In folklore, willow branches were believed to ward off evil spirits, and were fastened over doorways to keep the occupants safe. Another piece of folklore said that if you knock your knuckles on a willow tree, this will banish bad luck. This is the origin of the saying "touch wood". Willow wood is often used to make water divining rods, and wands.

Willows are also mentioned in the bible; Psalm 137 begins:

"By the rivers of Babylon—there we sat down, and there we wept when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our harps."

In this verse the willow symbolises loss, however in the verse from Ezekiel 17 below, the willow represents revival:

"Then he took a seedling from the land, placed it in fertile soil;
a plant by abundant waters, he set it like a willow twig."