1918 



* GENiSTA monosperma. 

 Single-seeded Genista. 



DIADELPHIA (MONADELPHIA), DECANDRU. 



Nat. ord. FabacE;E or Leguminos.^, § Papilionace^. 

 GENISTA.— Supra, vol. 14. t. 1150. 



G. monosperma ; ramis virgatis teretibus striatis floriferis nudis juniorlbus foliis- 

 que anguste linearibus simplicibus sericeis, racemis lateralibus, (floribus 

 albis), leguminibus ovalibus nionospermis glaberrimis subinflatis. Gusso7ie 

 fi. sic. 2. 363. 



Spartium monospermum. Linn. sp. pi. 995. Bot. Mag. t. 683. 



Genista monosperma. DC. prodr. p. 150. 



One of the most delicioiisly fragrant shrubs in the worhl. 

 It is difficult to imagine an^r thing more delicate and grate- 

 ^ ful 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 F("l)ruary ; along the 

 Barbary coast ; in Sicily from Alicata to Spaccnforno, and in 

 Greece it occurs in similar situations ; and finally it gains its 

 eastern limits in the desert of Mount Sinai, where the Arabs 

 call it Retam. 



* Of doubtful meaning. It is said to be derived from (jemi the knee, be- 

 cause tbe branches are flexible like the knee joint. Tlic Genista; lent® of Virgil 

 are generally referred to Spartium jiinceum. 



