148 THE TREE BOOK 



silvery undersurfaces of its glimmering leaves. 

 In winter, it may be known by the golden-olive 

 color of its twigs. 



The leaves- of all the willows are simple, and 

 feather-veined. They vary in color from all 

 shades of green to yellow and even red and blue 

 tints; The bark also shows a wide range in 

 color. The golden osier and the shining willow 

 have beautiful foliage. So also does the weep- 

 ing willow, a native of Asia, but now quite at 

 honie in our own land and much used in ceme- 

 teries. The leaves seem fairly to drip from the 

 twigs, and it has long, slender, drooping 

 branches — the very picture of sorrow. The 

 silky willow has purplish twigs, and the baby 

 leaves are densely covered with silky hairs. 



Somehow the willow has become linked with 

 sadness and despair. Tradition has it that the 

 rods with which Christ was scourged were cut 

 from the weeping willow, and because of this it 

 sorrows always. Judas hanged himself upon a 

 willow, 'tis said, and hence the devil clothes it 

 with attraction for suicides. In Iceland, the 

 first-out willow twigs, placed in a sickroom, will 

 keep death from entering. A garland of willow 

 was long considered the proper head-gear for 

 one forsaken in love. Thus sings an old poet: 



