302 Mr. C. C. Babington on Ulex. 



the extreme point of the erect wand-like branches, and rising 

 above the uppermost spines ; the bracteas are rather large 

 ovate and slightly spreading ; the calyx shaggy ; the petals 

 very similar in form, but broader in proportion to their length 

 than those of U. europceus. The leaves linear-lanceolate, in 

 the young state thin, shaggy beneath, and not furrowed. 



Remarkable for its very erect mode of growth and small 

 spines ; and although closely allied to europceus, \t is constantly 

 very different in habit (no intermediate forms having been 

 observed) ; and possessing as it does characters by which it 

 may be easily distinguished, I cannot but agree with Dr. 

 Lindley in considering that it ought to be ranked as a distinct 

 species. 



U. strictus. 



c. 



Found in the Marquess of Londonderry's park in the county 

 of Down, and a few other places in the north of Ireland, 

 flowering in April. 



3. U. nanus, (Forst. in Sym. Syn. 160.) Calyce sericeo, bracteis 



minutis adpressis, foliis junioribus glabris ciliatis sulcatis, spinis 



primariis gracilibus teretibus striatis Isevibus, caulibus hirsutis, 



foliis lateralibus terminalibusque. 



a. typicalis. Caulibus procumbentibus, spinis primariis brevibus 



gracilibus patulis. 

 Eng. Bot. t. 743. 

 (3. major. Caulibus erectis adscendentibusve, spinis primariis elon- 



gatis validioribus deflexis. 

 Two marked forms are included under this species, one of 

 them (var. a.) with slender short procumbent or slightly as- 

 cending stems, forming a beautiful carpet on the heaths which 

 it inhabits, and with small slender spreading spines ; the other 

 (var. /8.) with stems sometimes 5 or 6 feet high forming large 

 bushes, with the spines long, strong, and deflexed. In both 

 the spines are terete, striated and smooth, and producing nu- 

 merous branches (secondary spines) from their bases alone. 



