Salix tetrasperma

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Indian Willow
Indian Willow blooming in Delhi.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malpighiales Family: Salicaceae Genus: Salix Species: S. tetrasperma
Binomial name
Salix tetrasperma

Salix tetrasperma, commonly called Indian Willow, is a medium sized tree of wet and swampy places, shedding the leaves at the end of monsoon season. It flowers after leafing. The bark is rough, with deep, vertical fissures and the young shoots leaves are silky. The leaves are lance-like, or ovate-lancelike, 8-15 cm long, with minutely and regularly toothed margins. The male sweet scented catkins are 5-10 cm long, and are borne on leafy branchlets. The female catkins are 8-12 cms long. The capsules are long, stipulate, in groups of 3 to 4.

In Manipur, in NE India, the new flowers of Indian Willow, locally known as ঊযুম (Ooyum) are eaten, and are considered delicious.