208 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
Catkin-scales strapshaped-lanceolate, subobtuse, pilose towards the 
base, glabrous or ciliated towards the apex. “2 stamens, sometimes 3.” 
(Anders.); filaments woolly at the base (Wimmer). Capsule conical- 
subulate, glabrous, on stalk slightly longer than the nectary; style 
very short; stigmas short, divaricate, deeply cleft. “Young branches 
downy ; young leaves silky. J 
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 8. 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 brought 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. Itappears, 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 November1781, 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 us that he paid a visit 
