A refined analysis of dislocation energy and dislocation networks in {110} planes of &agr;‐iron crystals is presented on the basis of anisotropic elasticity.Contrary to the conclusions given by isotropic theory, the elastic energy per unit length of a screw segment, with Burgers vectora⟨100⟩, is greater than that of an edge segment with the same Burgers vector lying in a {110} plane. The latter in turn is greater than the sum of the energies of two screw segments with Burgers vector (a/2)⟨111⟩.The shape of a stable net composed ofa⟨100⟩ screw segments and (a/2)⟨111⟩ segments of mixed character in {110} planes is determined by the line tension method. Comparison between theory and experiment is discussed. It is shown that the anisotropic theory agrees well with the observations.