Willow trees are not willow trees. Although the name contains the word 'willow', there are significant differences in plant classification between tamarisk and willow. The following is a detailed introduction to tamarisk: 1. Basic information
Chinese name: Tamarix chinensis
Latin scientific name: Tamarix chinensis Lour.
Nicknames: weeping willow, Xihe willow, Xihu willow, red willow, yin willow, etc
Family and genus: Chinese tamarisk family, Chinese tamarisk genus II, morphological characteristics
Tamarix is a tree or shrub that can reach a height of 3-6 meters, and even up to 8 meters.
The old branch is upright, dark brownish red, and shiny; The young branches are dense and weak, often spreading and drooping, reddish purple or dark purple red, and shiny.
The leaves are bright green, diamond shaped or ovate lanceolate, with a keel like protrusion on the back and an inward curved tip.
It blooms two to three times a year, with inflorescences in spring, summer, and autumn. The petals are pink in color, and the capsules are conical in shape. 3、 Growth habits
Tamarix is native to China and widely distributed, including provinces and regions such as Hubei, Gansu, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Guangdong.
It prefers light, heat, drought, and moisture, and can grow on heavily saline alkali land with a salt content of 1%.
Tamarix does not have strict soil requirements and can grow in clay loam, sandy loam, and alluvial soil along rivers. 4、 Economic value and ornamental value
The tender branches and leaves of tamarisk are traditional Chinese medicinal materials, which have the effects of dispelling wind and cold, relieving external cough, lifting and dispersing rashes, and dispelling wind and dampness.
The willow branches are slender and soft, with a graceful posture. They bloom like red knotweed, which is quite beautiful and often planted as ornamental plants in courtyards.
Although the name of the Chinese tamarisk contains the word "willow", it differs significantly from the willow in terms of plant classification, morphological characteristics, growth habits, and economic value. Willow trees are not willow trees.