The weeping willow (Salix babylonica L.) is a medium-sized deciduous tree belonging to the family Salicaecae. The genus (Salix) is the word that was used in ancient Rome to describe the species belonging to this group. The specific epithet (babylonica) refers to Mesopotamia, as it was believed that this willow came from the banks of the river Euphrates. The tree is in fact native to China, and was introduced to Europe at the beginning of the 1700s. It has been present in Italy since the first half of the 18th century. Elisa planted the willow, being a hygrophilous plant, close to lakes and other bodies of water in her gardens.
