ETT Y 
: 1918 
x GENÎSTA monospérma. 
Single-seedéd Genista. 
DIADELPHIA (MONADELPHIA), DECANDRIA. | 
Nat. ord. FABACE or LEGUMINOSA, $ PAPILIONACES, f 
GENISTA.—Supra, vol. 14, t. 1150. A | 
què angustè linearibus simplicibus fericeis, racemis lat ralibus, (floribus 
albis), leguminibus ovalibus monospermis glaberrimis subinflatis. Gussone 
A. sic. 2. 363. f} / 
Spartium monospermum. Linn. sp. pli995. Bot. Mag. t. 683. 
Genista monosperma. DC. prodr. p. 150. $ 
| f 
T 
x Í A j 
G. monosperma ; ramis virgatis teretibus f floriferis nudis junioribus foliis- 
One of the most deliciously fragrant shrubs in the world. 
It is difficult to imagine any thing more; delicate and grate- 
tul than the sweet odour that its tender Snow-white blossoms 
diffuse in the conservatory, in the months of May and June. 
It is described as being, when wild, a good deal taller 
than a man, having a trunk an inch thick, and waving its 
green gray leafless thread-like branches in the wind in the 
most graceful manner. All along the basin of the Mediter- 
ranean, as high as the latitude of Sicily, it is abundant; 
but it cannot bear the cold of the French shore. At Gibral- 
tar, in a sandy barren soil, and close upon the sea-beaten 
rocks, it is loaded with blossoms in February; along the 
Barbary coast; in Sieily from Alicata to Spaccaforno, and in 
Greece it occurs in similar situations; and finally it gains its 
eastern limits in the desert of Moung Sinai, where the Arabs 
call it Retam. No 
N È 
+ 
* Of doubtful meaning. It is said to be derived from gem the knee, be- 
cause the branches are flexible like the knee-joint. The Geniste lente of Virgil 
are generally referred to Spartium junceum EN 
5 
È 
