CHAP. CIII. -S-ALICA^EJE. SALIX. 1517 



this tree; but Sir J. E. Smith (in his Eng. Ft., vol. iv. p. 186.) says that 

 they belong, probably, to S. Russellmna. The roots, however, of S. fragilis 

 are used, in Sweden, to boil with eggs, to make them of a purple colour, at 

 Easter ; it being the custom there, as in many other countries, to make 

 presents of coloured eggs at that festival. A similar custom is said to have 

 prevailed anciently in Scotland. " The withy, or Salix fragilis," says 

 Gilpin, " is of little value in landscape ; and yet there is something beautiful 

 in its silver-coated catkins, which open, as the year advances, into elegant 

 hanging tufts, and, when the tree is large and in full bloom, make a beautiful 

 variety among the early productions of the spring." (Gilp. For. Seen.) For 

 the properties and uses of this species as a timber tree, see p. 1460. 



Statistics. In the environs of London, on the banks of the Thames, near Brentford, 50 ft high. 

 In Suffolk, at the bottom of the old Bury Botanic Garden, on theauthority of Mr. Turner, the curator 

 of the new Botanic Garden at Bury, there was "a noble tree, 90ft. high ; the diameter of the trunk 

 7jft., and of the head 54ft. A portrait of this tree was lithographed by Mr. Strutt." This tree, 

 which grew on the banks of the Lark, was blown down during the hurricane of November 29th, 1836. 

 In Ireland, in the county Down, at Mount Stewart, 50 years planted, it is 57 ft. high ; the diameter 

 of the trunk 3|ft., and of the head 27 ft. In Russia, at Petersburg, in the garden of the Taurida 

 Palace, 49ft. high ; the circumference of the trunk lOi ft., and of the head 49 ft. There are plants 

 in the Hackney arboretum, and at Woburn Abbey, Flitwick House, Henfield, the Botanic Garden 

 at Twickenham, and various other places. 



23. S. MONSPELIE'NSIS Forbes. The Montpelier Willow. 



Identification. Forbes in Sal. Wob., No. 30. 

 Synonynte. ? S. fragilis var. (Borrer in a letter.) 

 The Sexes. The male is figured in Sal. Wob. 

 Engravings. Sal. Wob., No. 30. ; and Jig. 30. in p. 1609. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, pointed, glabrous ; green, shining 

 above ; pale, and somewhat glaucous beneath ; margins strongly serrated, 

 glandular. Stipules ovate-lanceolate, deeply serrated. Catkins about 

 2 in. long. Stamens 2. Bractea oblong, fringed. (Sal. Wob., p. 59.) 

 A native of Montpelier, in France. Introduced into England about 

 1825, or before, and flowering in the salictum at Woburn Abbey in 

 April and May. It forms a small tree, 10ft. or 12ft. high, with round, 

 smooth, tough branches, forming a bushy head; the young twigs pale 

 yellow, but becoming of a brownish-green colour at the base, like the pre- 

 ceding year's shoots. The leaves are from 4 in. to 6 in. long. There are 

 plants in the Hackney arboretum, and at Woburn Abbey, Henfield, and 

 Flitwick House. 



* 24. S. RussELLLiVM Smith. The Russell, or Duke of 'Bedford '*, Willow. 



Identification. Smith Fl. Br., p. 1045. ; Willd. Sp. PL, 4. p. 656. ; Koch Comm., p. 15., at least 

 in part ; Smith Eng. Hot, t, 1801. ; Eng. Fl., 4. p. 186. ; Forbes in Sal. Wob., No. 28. ; Hook. Br. 

 Fl., ed. 3., p. 422. ; Mackay Fl. Hibern., pt 1. p. 246. 



Synonymes. ? S. fragilis Woodv., and other medical writers ; the Dishley, or Leicestershire, Willow : 

 in some counties, the Huntingdon Willow. Koch has deemed identical with this the following: 

 S. pt-ndula Ser. Sal. Helv., p. 79., from specimens from Seringe; S. viridis Fries Nov.,p. 120. ; S. 

 rubens Schrank Baier. Fl., 1. 226. 



The Sexes. The female is figured in Eng. Bot. and Sal. Wob. Smith, in the Eng. FL, states that he 

 had not seen the flowers of the male. Dr. Johnston, in his Flora of Berwick upon Tweed, states, 

 that a male tree, which he has deemed of this species, is in " New-water-haugh Plantation." 



Eyisravings. Eng. Bot., t. 1808. ; Sal. Wob., No. 28., and the frontispiece; our Jig. 1311. ; and 

 fig. 28. in p. 1608. 



Spec. Char., $c. Leaves lanceolate, tapering at each end, serrated throughout, 

 very glabrous. Footstalks glandular or leafy. Ovary tapering, stalked, 

 longer than the bracteas. Style as long as the stigmas. (Smith E. F.) 

 Smith states that he had not seen the flowers of the male of this kind ; 

 and this sex is not farther noticed in Sal. Wob. Dr. Johnston, in his Flora 

 of Berwick upon Tweed, has noticed the existence of a male tree of what 

 he deems this species within the province of his Flora ; and has given the 

 following botanical description of it : " The male tree is very rare ; and, if 

 we are correct in our determination of it, the figure in Withering is not good. 

 Its catkins are 2 in. long, cylindrical, and yellow. Stamens 2. Filaments 

 not much longer than the pointed, more or less villous, bracteas. The 

 catkins stand on short leafy branchlets ; and ,the young leaves are entire, 

 I in. to 2 in. long, but not otherwise different from the adult ones. Catkins 



