Page 49 - Растения Сахалинской области в легендах и мифах
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Salix kimurana
(Salix kimurana (Miyabe et Tatew.)
Miyabe et Tatew.)
Almost flattened shrub up to 15 cm in
height, with yellowish shoots and dense,
sharp-toothed-serrated leaves along the
edge up to 4 cm long and 2 cm wide.
Endemic to Sakhalin Island, known
from several localities: Smirnykhovsky,
Uglegorsky and Poronaysky districts.
Once the creator sent a sparrow
to the God of Heaven to ask what to
make people out of. He suggested to
use willow, but soon changed his mind
and sent an otter to send a message so
that people should be made of stone.
But the otter took up fishing and was
late, arriving later than the sparrow.
So, according to legend, that’s how
the Ainu appeared, but they became
vulnerable and mortal.
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