June 1900.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 3l7 



the smaller broom on the lower branch. The latter 

 makes an angle of 45 degrees with the trunk of the tree, 

 and up to the point of origin of the broom, a distance of 

 5 feet 8 inches, it is well developed, being 12 inches 

 in girth where it gives off the vertical broom axis. The 

 broom axis is 8 inches in circumference, and the broom 

 itself is 6 feet high and of proportional spread. 



The broom shoots show the characteristic negative 

 geotropism, great development of dormant buds, and 

 consequent " twigginess." These twigs develop in spring 

 as long shoots, and in autumn die back for three-quarters 

 of their length, collapsing and turning black like a frosted 

 herbaceous shoot. Young and old shoots are markedly 

 brittle. Neither flowers nor fruit have ever been noted 

 on this broom. Its close branching and bushy character 

 render it conspicuous when seen either in the leafy or 

 leafless condition. 



My first opportunity of examining the broom on the 

 thorn was during the spring of this year, before the buds 

 had burst. I found, however, an unexpected feature, viz. 

 that this broom flowers. This was evidenced by the 

 discovery of a few of last year's fruits still adhering to 

 the twigs. This point, contrary to all experience of 

 brooms hitherto (Tubeuf, loc. cit.), I was able to confirm 

 on a subsequent visit, when I found the broom shoots 

 bearing a number of flowers ; the quantity, however, was 

 inconsiderable as compared with that produced by a normal 

 branch of equal size. 



The thorn was one of those very old specimens that 

 are so common in parts of Fife, forming close rows 

 between adjacent pasture fields. No doubt an ordinary 

 trimmed hedge originally existed, which had been cut 

 down, and the shoots afterwards were allowed to 

 develop from the^ stumps, ultimately attaining tree 

 dimensions. 



Here branching occurred at the ground-level, and two 

 bare shoots, one on the east and the other on the west, 

 extended upwards for 12 feet, where each branched. At 

 14 feet from the ground the west stem (then 12 inches 

 in girth) gave origin to a lateral branch, at a point 10 feet 

 along which there was produced a broom. The east stem 



