208 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Catkin-scales strapsliaped-lanceolate, subobtuse, pilose towards the 

 base, glabrous or ciliated towards the apex. " 2 stamens, sometimes 3." 

 (A7ide7's.); filaments woolly at the base ( Wimmer). Capsule conical- 

 subulate, glabrous, on a stalk slightly longer than the nectary; style 

 very short; stigmas short, divaricate, deeply cleft. Young branches 

 downy ; young leaves silky. 



In marshy woods, wet meadows, osier grounds, and hedges. Rather 

 rare, but widely distributed in England and the south of Scotland. 

 In Ireland it is recorded from the north of the island only. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Tree. Late Spring, early Summer. 



Very similar to S. fragilis, but it appears to be one of the series 

 of hybrids between S. fragilis and S. alba, as was pointed out by 

 Dr. Andersson in his notes on Leefe's " Salictum Britanicum," 

 communicated by Mr. H. C. Watson to the "Botanical Gazette" for 

 1851. There can be no doubt, however, that if this be the case, 

 S. Russelliana, Smith, is a departure from Fries' S. viridis in the 

 direction of S. fragilis. It differs from S. fragilis in its tougher and 

 more flexible twigs, which do not spring at so great an angle, and 

 do not break off at the base with a slight blow. The leaves are very 

 similar, paler above, and usually very glaucous beneath. The male 

 plant is not known in Britain ; the female has the catkins more erect 

 than in S. fragilis, more lax, with the catkin-scales shorter and less 

 hairy, the germen longer and narrower, seated on a much shorter 

 pedicel. The style is about the same length as the stigmas. 



Bedford Willow. 



This valuable tree, known also as S. Russelliana, was first brouglit into notice by- 

 Francis, Duke of Bedford, about the beginning of the present century. It is thought 

 to be a variety of S. fragilis, and bears the family name of the Bedfords. A cele- 

 brated tree of this species grew at Litchfield, which was said to have been planted by 

 Dr. Johnson ; but in the " Gentleman's Magazine " for 1785 (seven months after John- 

 son's death), there is a particular account of this tree, wherein it is stated that it had 

 been generally supposed to have been planted by Dr. Johnson's father, but that the 

 Doctor never would admit the fact. It appears, however, to have been a favourite tree 

 of the Doctor's, and to have attracted his attention for many years ; indeed, to use his 

 own expression, it was the "delight of his early and waning life," and it is said he 

 never failed to visit it whenever he went to Litchfield. In N^ovember 1 781, he requested 

 Dr. Trevor Jones, a physician of that place, to prepare a detailed account of the tree 

 for preservation in the " Philosophical Transactions," which he did. At that time 

 the tree was computed to be fourscore years old, and some good authorities inclined 

 to think that a century had passed over its head. The tree stood near the public foot- 

 path in the fields between the City of Litchfield and Stow Hill, the residence of the 

 celebrated " Molly Ashton," and it is said that Dr. Johnson frequently rested under 

 its shade on his way to the house of that lady, whom he never failed to visit periodi- 

 cally till 'within a short time of his death. Dr. Withering tells ns that he paid a visit 



