ON HEATH, DOWN AND MOOR 



261 



are reduced to sharp, green spines, about half an inch long. The 

 flowers, usually more than half an inch long, are j)laced singly in the 

 axils of the thorny leaves of the previous season, and are often so 

 abundant as to form dense, showy clusters. The Furze is abundant 

 in all parts of Great Britain \^'ith the exception of North Scotland, 



The Tormentil. 



and may be seen in flower from February (or even January if the 

 weather is mild) to July. 



The Dwarf Furze ( Ulex nanus), also abundant on the heaths of 

 most parts of Britain, commences to flower in July — just about the 

 time that the last species ceases to produce its blossoms, and con- 

 tinues in bloom almost to the end of the year. It is a much smaller 

 shrub, usually from one to two feet high, of a deeper green colour. 

 Its stem is usually procumbent ; its spines weaker, and generally 



