SHRUBS 229 



to 15 20 feet. The so-called "berries" are due to the 

 cone-scales becoming fleshy (see Vol. IV.). 



The rare Genista pilosa and Cotoneaster vulgaris also 

 occur as prostrate plants ; the former with fine wiry twigs 

 and yellow papilionaceous flowers, the latter with white 

 cottony shoots and lower leaf-surfaces, dark red twigs, and 

 small white rosaceous flowers. 



The Ivy also grows closely prostrate in woods, in a 

 non-flowering form and often with very different leaves 

 from those on the climbing form. 



Betula nana should also be noted as more or less 

 prostrate (see p. 249). 



(ii) Erect shrubs or bushes, neither climbing 

 nor prostrate. 



(a) Branches or leaves armed with spines, [For (p) 

 thorns, or prickles. seep ' 23 



* The spines are true thorns, i.e. axillary [For (**) 

 dwarf-shoots, which may bear buds or see p * -j 

 leaves, but have no buds in their axils. 



t Small bushes about 15 feet high, densely [For (ft) 

 branched and tufted. Leaves minute r see P >231 'l 

 absent. Flowers yellow and papilionaceous ; 

 fruit a small legume. 



O Evergreen bush, 2 5 feet high, apparent- 

 ly leafless; the leaves of older plants 

 being reduced to spines, with branched 

 thorns i.e. dwarf-shoots in their axils. 

 Twigs and branches green and striate 

 furrowed. Older stems with tawny-grey, 

 fissured, corky bark. Flowers rather 

 large, solitary. Legumes black, with 

 brown hairs. Seeds olive. 



Ulex europceus, L. Gorse (Fig. 11.5). U. nanus, the 

 Dwarf Furze, is smaller, 1 3 feet, more densely tufted, 



