CHAP. XLI. LEGUMINA CER. U LEX. 57) 
Sect. II. Zo‘rrem. 
Genus IV. 
| 
4:5 
U‘LEX L. Tue Furze. Lin. Syst. Monadélphia Decandria. 
Identification. Lin. Gen., No. 881. ; Lam. IIL, t. 621.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 144. ; Don’s Mill., 2. p. 148, 
Synonymes. Ajonc, Fr. ; Hecksaame, Ger. 
Derivation. Said to be derived from ac, Celtic, a point ; in reference to the prickly branches. 
Description, §c. Branchy, evergreen, spinous shrubs, with yellow flowers, 
natives of Europe, which will grow in any tolerably good soil that is dry; and 
are readily propagated by seeds, or by cuttings, planted in sand. 
% 1, U‘Lex EURoPz‘A L. The European, or common, Furze, or Whin. 
Identification. Lin. Spec., 1045. var. «; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 144.; Don’s Mill., 2. p.148. 
Synonymes. Genista spindsa L’Obel, U. grandifldrus Pour,; U. 
} : i I 7. vernalis Thore; Whin, Gorse, 
Prickly Broome; Ajonc common, Jone marin, Jomarin, or Genét épineux, Fr. 
Engravings. Eng. Bot., t. 742.; and our jig. 262. to a scale of 2in. to a foot, and Jig. 263. of the 
natural size. 
Spec. Char., Description, $c. Leaves lanceolate, linear. Branchlets villous. 
Bracteas ovate, loose. Calyx pubescent. An erect evergreen shrub, with 
yellow flowers, which are produced in abundance from February to May, 
and, in mild winters, from September till May.- Indeed, it may be said to 
be in flower, more or less, the whole year ; and hence the country proverb, 
that “ Love goes out of fashion, when the furze is out of blossom.” Ina 
wild state, in cold elevated situations, it is seldom seen higher than 2 ft. or 
3 ft.; but in sheltered woods, in England, it may frequently be seen of 10 ft. 
or 12ft. in height. In Spain, on the mountains of Galicia, it grows to the 
height of 18 ft., with stems as thick as a man’s leg, 
Varieties. 
a U. c. 2 flore pléno has double flowers, and is a splendid plant when 
profusely covered with blossoms. It is well adapted for small 
gardens ; and is easily increased by cuttings. A plant in our garden 
at Bayswater, in 5 years, formed a bush 8ft. high, and 6 ft. in dia- 
meter, flowering profusely from April to June. 
U. provincialis and U. stricta are probably only varieties of U. 
europa, but, as they may possibly belong to U. nana, we have kept them 
distinct, and treated them as botanical species or races. 
A variety with white flowers is mentioned by Gerard and Parkinson, as 
reported to have been seen in the north parts of England; but no 
such variety is now known. 

262 Geography. The common furze is a native of 
the middle and south of Europe, on gravelly 
soils, on plains and hil!s, but not generally to a 
very great elevation. 
In Caernarvonshire, it 
» grows to the height of 
1500 ft. above the sea, 
in open, airy, warm 
situations; but in damp 
shaded valleys, not 
higher than 600 ft. In 
‘the north of England, 
according to Winch, it 
forms fine fox covers, 
at 800 ft. or 900 ft., and 
grows, in warm sheltered situations, at 2000 ft. At Inverness, it is found 
to the height of 1150 ft. . About Tongue, in the north-west of Suther- 

