DIOECIA — DIANDRIA. «alix. 187 



the Oak. Hence this bark, taken for S.fragiiis, has been found 

 useful, as a substitute for the Cinchona, in agues ; and if it has 

 occasionally disappointed some medical practitioners, they pro- 

 bably chanced, in such cases, to give the xt^iXfragills. Tanners 

 have sometimes been, in like manner, deceived, and they will 

 find it worth their while to observe the character of the tree, in 

 future, before they purchase its bark. On the other hand, when 

 the tree in question was first recommended for cultivation, by 

 the name of the Leicestershire, or Dishley, Willow, it was re- 

 garded with scorn, as '' only the Crack \\'ilIow," a sort notori- 

 ously useless. This ignorance and prejudice are now removed, 

 and S. Russelliana is found the most profitable for cultivation of 

 any species of the genus, for the value of its timber as well as 

 bark, the rapidity of its growth, and the handsome aspect of 

 the tree. A famous Willow, planted by Dr. Johnson at Lich- 

 field, is the UnaseUiana; as 1 am assured by the Rev. Mr. Dicken- 

 son, who has mentioned it in his edition of Shaw's History of 

 Staffordshire, p. 1 13, by the name oifragilis. 



21. ^. jmrpiwea. Bitter Purple Willow. 



Branches trailing, decumbent. Leaves partly opposite, 

 obovate-lanceolate, serrated, very smooth ; narrow at 

 the base. Stamen one. Stigmas very short, ovate, nearly 



sessile. 



S. purpurea. Linn. Sp. PL 1444. Fl. Suec. 34/. WiUd. v. 4. 6/2. 



Fl. fir. 1039. Fngl. hot. v. 20. t. ;388. Tr of L. Soc. v. 6. 1 13. 



Huds. V27. Marsvh. Taur.^Cauc. v. 2. 4 1 2. 

 S. monandra. Anlnin. Mem. I. G7. /. 1 1 Ehrh. Jrb. 58. Curt. 



Land. fuse. G.t.7\ ./ 5 ; but not of Hoffmann. 

 S. rubra, minime fragilis, folio longo angusto. B<ntli. Hist. v. I. 



p. 2. 215./. 



In low meadows, about the banks of rivers and ditches, but not 

 common. 



in meadows betwixt Norwich and Thorpe. Mr. Crowe. 



Shrub. March. 



Trun/i'.i or 4 teet high, with long, slender, smooth branches, spread- 

 ing widely, and, if not .su|)port(.'(l, trailing on the ground, very 

 smooth, of a rich and sliiniiig purple, with a somewhat glaucous 

 hue. Leaves pari])' opjjosite, partly alternate, on short, smooth, 

 rather stout foofstal/ts, without slipulas, of a peculiar lanceolate 

 oblong figure, apj)roaching to obovate, minutely pointed, quite 

 smooth, except a slight pubescence in their very youngest slate ; 

 broadest, and most distinctiv serrated, towards the end ; con- 

 tracted, and nearly entire, towards the base ; their upper sur- 

 face of a deep glaucous green ; under more glaucous ; tlieir two 

 sides in some degree unequal, or ol)liq\u'. Catkins earlier than 

 the foliage, and often on ditlerent branches, opj)ositr or alter- 



