Damyang Wonyulriopyeongmaeul Village Willow Tree

Wangbeodeul (Salix chaenomeloides) is a tree of the willow family that grows in warm regions of Korea, Japan, China, and elsewhere. It is called wangbeodeul ("king willow") because it grows taller and has broader leaves than the ordinary willow, and it can easily be identified by the reddish colour of its new leaves. The tree has a fine shape, and it is especially beautiful when its deep pink, candle-like new shoots emerge, making it an excellent choice as a park tree or street tree in urban areas. Opyeong Village is said to be shaped like a terrapin brooding over its eggs, and so takes its name from the character 鰲 (o, "terrapin"), becoming Opyeong. On the western side of the village, between the rice paddies and a stream, four wangbeodeul trees are planted in a north–south line stretching about 70 m. Judging from the fact that they were planted in a single row, it is presumed that they were intended to shield crops from the wind. Originally five trees grew here, but one died after its lower trunk broke in typhoon damage, leaving four trees standing today. The trees are thought to be about 300 years old; the largest stands 26 m tall with a girth of 4.6 m, and all four have grown to roughly even size. The wangbeodeul of Opyeong Village are unusual in that several trees of even size are growing together in one place, and their condition is very healthy. They also match, in size and shape, wangbeodeul in other regions that have been designated natural monuments, giving them great conservation value.

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Where it is

Region

Damyang, Jeonnam & Gwangju

Designation

Provincial Monument · 시도기념물