GORSE OR WHIN 



densely covered by stout spines, which made a perfect 

 protection.^ 



It is more usual to find thorns developed on the branches 

 or stems. Generally these are formed on the outside towards 

 the end of the branches. In the Alps, larches have to suffer 

 from the attacks of goats which nibble off the ends of the 

 young shoots. The part behind the scar dries up, but fresh 

 twigs are put out from further back along the branch, until 

 the tree becomes a closely branched, twiggy, bristling mass 

 which looks like the clipped yews in old gardens. But so soon 

 as it has grown tall enough to be above the reach of the 

 goats, an ordinary larch stem develops and may grow into 

 quite a respectable tree. This fact is given by Kemer von 

 Marilaun (I.e., p. 445), and is very instructive, as explaining 

 why it is that so often the ends of the branches become hard 

 thorns : the green leaves and twigs are hidden and protected. 



One of the neatest examples of this is the Portuguese 

 Gorse or Whin, which resembles a little cushion with every 

 branch ending in strong thorns and every leaf terminated by a 

 stout spine. 



The common Whin, Furze, or Gorse, is very nearly as per- 

 fect an example of thorniness and spininess. The South- 

 down sheep do not seem to injure it on those beautiful 

 Sussex downs so famous for succulent mutton, yet in the 

 early spring, or in a very wet season, one often finds in the 

 grass at the foot of the bush (or even in the bush itself) 

 small shoots which would be taken at first sight as belonging 

 to some other plant. These little shoots are grey with hairs 

 and have soft trefoil leaves which are quite unprotected, for 

 their spines are quite soft. They are probably seldom eaten, 

 for most of them are in the shelter of the old spiny bushes. 



^ Scott Elliot, Naturalist in Mid Africa. 

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