CHAP. Xl.r. LEGUMINA CE^. U'LEX. 575 



tt. 2. U. (e.) na'na Forst. The dwarf Furze. 



Identification. Smith Eng. Fl. , 3. p. 266. ; Engl. Bot., t. 743. : Dec. Prod., 2. p. 144.: Don's Mill.. 



2. p. 148. 

 Synom/mes. U. nlnor Roth Cat., I. p. 83. ; U. europ£E'us/9 Lin. Spec, 1045. 

 Engravings. Engl. Bot, t. 743. ; and our fig. 264. to a scale of Sin. to a foot, and^g'. 265. of the 



natural size. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Branches and 

 leaves smooth, the latter linear. 

 Calyx glabrous, with spreading 

 narrow teeth. According to 

 Smith, the essential character 

 consists in the more distinct 

 and spreading cal^x teeth, and 

 the more minute, rounded, 

 close-pressed, and often hardly 

 discernible, bracteas, A low 

 spiny shrub, a native of Bri- 

 tain, and the western parts of 

 France, on poor gravelly soils. 

 Abundant in Surrey, on the Portsmouth Koad ; found in Dumfriesshire, 

 and on the Pentland Hills, in Scotland; and also in Ireland. This is 

 a very distinct sort, though, from the very different and more luxu- 

 riant habit which the plant has when cultivated in gardens on rich 

 soils, we have no doubt of its being only a variety of U. europee^a. In its 

 native habitats, it is easily distinguished from that species by its low growth, 

 seldom exceeding 2 ft. in height; by its being much smaller in all its parts; 

 by its decumbent habit ; and by its flowering from the end of August till 

 the beginning of December, and seldom at any other season. This sort, 

 H. C. Watson observes, generally grows at a greater elevation by 200 ft., 

 in North Wales, than the common sort. (Outlines, 4'c., p. 124). The only 

 use of this plant in cultivation is to produce variety in ornamental plan- 

 tations. A double-flowered variety of it, would be a desirable acquisition. 

 Very neat low hedges and edgings may be formed of it. 



« 3. U. (e.) provincia^lis Lois. The Provence Furze. 



Identification. Lois. Not., 105. t. 6. f. 2. ; Dec. Fl. Franc. Suppl., No.3799. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 144. j 



Don's Mill., 2, p. 148. 

 Engraving. Lois. Not., 105. t. 6. f. 2. 



Sj)ec. Char., <^c. Calyx rather pubescent, with lanceolate distant teeth. 

 Shrub erect; intermediate, in all its parts and in its habit, between U. euro- 

 pas^a and U. nana. A native of Provence, Andegavany, and Mauritania ; 

 where it grows to the height of from 2 ft. to 4 ft. Whatever doubts there 

 may be as to U, nana being a distinct species, there can be none as to 

 this sort being only a variety. As an evergreen shrub, flowering freely, it 

 well deserves a place in collections. 



m 4. U. STRi'cTA Mackai/. The \\])v\g\\t-grounng, or Irish, Furze. 



Identification. Mackay's List of Irish Plants ; Hook. Brit. Fl., p. 317. 



Synonyines. U. hlhemca. Don's Mill.,'2. p. US. ; [/. fastigi^ta ijfort ' 



Sj^ec. Char., c^-c. Habit erect, narrow, and compact. Spines few or none ; 

 and what there are weak, branched, leafy, and pubescent. A native of 

 Ireland, where it was discoveredin the Marquess of Londonderry's Park, in 

 the County of Down, in 1815, or before. It is very upright in its growth, 

 and attains the height, in good soils, of from 6 ft. to 10 ft. in as many years. 

 Its branches are so soft and succulent, that sheep and cattle eat them 

 without injuring their mouths, and are very fond of them. It forms excel- 

 lent garden hedges, and, in rather moist climates, is a most excellent forage 

 plant, as has been already stated under U. europse^a. It very rarely 

 flowers, and has never produced seeds ; but it is easily propagated by cut- 

 tings. Sir W. J. Hooker doubts whether it should be referred to U. europae^a 

 or U. nana, or be considered as a distinct species ; he says (Encyc of Geog.^ 



R R 



