THE PEA FAMILY. 177 



in a field upon Mr. John Earl's farm at Warford, between Chelford 

 and Mobberley. (Mr. Holland.) Fl. June — August. 

 E. B., Supp. i. 2659. 



E. B.x. 682, is the Ondnis OMtiquorum, distinguished by its erect stems, spinous 

 at all times, the arvensis being spinous only at the close of summer. The former 

 state of the plant, for it can hardly be deemed a different species, does not appear 

 to occur with us. When fully expanded, the iiowers are most beautiful, being 

 large, and of a fine lively pink. The plant is called rest-harrow from the 

 hindrance offered to the farmer by its long tough roots. 



2. Common Furze — (Ulex EuropcBus.) 



Heathy and waste ground, which is often made refulgent by its 

 golden blossoms ; also by waysides, and occasionally in hedges, com- 

 mon everywhere, and flowering more or less all through the year, but 

 most abundantly and brilliantly in the early part of summer. 

 E. B. ix. 742 ; Baxter, ii. 93. 



Opening its cheerful blossoms while the white snow-bones still lie unmelted on 

 the chilly hedgebanks, and with the hoar-frost often glazing its yellow clusters, 

 the furze is a gladsome sight when there is scarcely another wild-flower to be 

 seen. I have known it golden all over as early as February 18th. No plant is 

 more broadly characteristic of English scenery and of the English cUmate. 

 Warmth is incongenial to its rude aud hardy nature ; yet though to appearance so 

 robust, in Russia, Sweden, and Norway, it needs the shelter of the green-house. 

 Linnffius, when he came to this country, fell on his knees with admiration of the 

 magnificent spectacle it presented to him, having never before seen it in such 

 splendour and profusion. 



A double-flowered variety is common in gardens, interesting as one of the very 

 few species of this vast family in which the double condition occurs. While the 

 RanunculacecB, the Papaveracea, and some other families, seem dissatisfied, 

 almost universally, with the single state, here, in the Legiiminosce, it is so rare 

 for the flowers to multiply their petals, that I can only call to mind, in addition 

 to the furze, the Lotus corniculatus and the Genista tinctoria. Seedling plants 

 of furze, which may be found in plenty about midsummer, have trifoliolate leaves 

 that plainly shew the nature of the thorns which afterwards usurp the place of 

 normal foliage. When ripe, the seed-pods are nearly black ; upon hot days they 

 burst with a sharp crackling noise, and shoot out the seeds. The flowers smell 

 like rue. 



3. Dwarf Autumnal Furze — {Ulex nanus.) 



Dry heaths and moors, and in rough, hilly pastures. Kersal Moor ; 

 Highfield Moss, near Parkside ; abundant on Lindow Common. Fl. 

 only in the autumn. 



E. B. xi. 743. 



14. 



