Dwarf willow

Tags: Trees Description: The dwarf willow is one of the smallest trees in the world. It never grows more than 5 cm tall – most often just 1–2 cm. Most of the branch system is found below ground. It has small oval leaves that resemble mouse ears. The dwarf willow belongs to the willow family. In this family, male and female flowers grow on separate plants. The female flowers on dwarf willow are shiny red and look a little like small royal crowns with spreading florets. The dwarf willow depends on a good snowpack in winter and therefore grows in snowbeds. It can go dormant for many years if conditions are not favourable for growth. Use: In summer it is sought-after grazing for reindeer and sheep. Habitat type: Mountains, Svalbard Edible: No Written by: Lærke Stewart

, via Wikimedia Commons](Mus%C3%B8re/Musre.jpg)

Dwarf willow. Photo: El Grafo, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons