PAPILIONACE^— PEA FAMILY 



WOADWAXEN. DYER'S GREENWEED 



Genista tinctoria 



Genista is Celtic for small shrub. 



A low, branching, woody plant, one to two feet high, 

 with creeping rootstalks and upright branches. Natural- 

 ized from Europe. Found on dry hills from 

 Maine to New York, where it becomes a 

 troublesome weed. 



Leaves. — Alternate, one-foliate, sessile, 

 elliptical or lanceolate, an inch or an inch 

 and a half long, narrowed at base, entire, 

 acute; bright, shining green. 



Flowers. — Papilionaceous, borne in many 

 short, few-flowered terminal racemes. 



Corolla. — Clear, bright yellow, without 

 markings. Pod an inch long, smooth. 



In Garden and Forest of August, 1888, 

 is given the following account of Ge- 

 nista tinctoria: ''In some parts of Essex 

 County, Massachusetts, it has become 

 thoroughly naturaUzed, and has taken 

 possession of thousands of acres of rocky 

 upland from which it is practically im- 

 possible to exterminate it, and which is 

 thus ruined for pasturage or for tillage. 

 These hills, when the Woadwaxen is in flower, seem to 

 be covered with a golden carpet and present an ap- 



85 



Woadwaxen. 

 Genista tinctdria 



