"Old and Valuable" Whomping Willow - But Why?

[Josh Warren]

No: HPFGUIDX 109568

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Brenda M." 
<Agent_Maxine_is at h...> wrote:
> Apologies for lack of exact quotation, but when Snape is lecturing 
> them about damaging the Whomping Willow, he describes it as "old 
and 
> valuable".  Also Harry's description has it "ancient tree".
> 
> But why?
> 
> We know it was planted the year Lupin came to Hogwarts.  So that 
will 
> be about 24-25 years ago.  It must have come from somewhere else -- 
I 
> suppose that's a common sense, tree of that magnitude will take 
quite 
> a long time to grow.  So how old of trees are thought to 
> be 'ancient'?  Any botanist?
> 
> And why valuable?  Sure, it provides the entrance to Shrieking 
Shack, 
> but is there more than meets the eye?  It rings a pair of odd 
bells, 
> seeing how Snape describes it 'valuable'.  Severus Snape, of all 
> people, who would love to squash it if possible, I bet.

Valuable, possibly, because it guards the entrance to the only secret 
tunnel of which he is aware? Whomping Willows might also be rare, at 
least in the UK. *shrugs* Old.. well, I'm sure it wasn't a young 
seedling when it was planted, else it wouldn't have been able to 
guard the tunnel entrance very effectively. Also, I'm sure Snape 
wouldn't want to unnecessarily connect its planting to the beginning 
of James' tenure at Hogwarts, as it might tempt the rule-breaker's 
curiosity. :)

Josh