636 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM, 



PART 111. 



A rapid-growing shrub, attaining the height of 

 12 ft. or U ft. in 8 or 10 years ; but, in British 

 gardens, not of long duration. It is not un- 

 common in Italy ; and on Mount Vesuvius is 

 found even on the ascent to the crater, where 

 there are scarcely any other plants. It grows 

 wild in the warmer parts of Switzerland, and 

 in the south of Germany, and in France ; vary- 

 ing in magnitude according to the soil and the 

 situation. It was introduced in 1570, and pro- 

 duces its yellow flowers from June to August ; 

 the flowers are succeeded by large bladder-like 

 lesumes, which, as they ripen, become of a red- 

 dish colour, and contain 15 or 20 seeds. These 

 bladders, wlien pressed, explode with a crack- 

 ling noise. On the Continent, the leaves have 

 been recommended as a substitute for senna, and they are also said to 

 afford a grateful food for cattle. The seeds, in doses of a draclim or two, 

 are said to excite vomiting. In British gardens, the plant is chiefly valuable 

 as a bulky fast-growing shrub, of the easiest culture, and fit for almost 

 any situation. Price, in the London nurseries, 9(1. each ; at Bollwyller, 

 50 cents ; and in New York, 37 J cents, 



a 2. C. (a.) crue'xta Ait. The b\oody-/!ou'rrcd Colutca, or Oriental Bladder 



Senna. 

 Identification. Ait Hort. Kew., 3. p. 55. ; Dec Astr., No. 3. ; L'Hfrit. Stirp. Nov., 2. t. 41. ; Don'f 



Mill 2 P. 245. 

 Stinonvme^ C orientaiis Lam. Diet., 1. p. 353., Til., 624 f. 3., A'. Du Ham., 1. t. 23. ; C. sangufnea 

 ' Pall. ; C. iptera Schmidt Arb., t UP. ; C. htimilis 



Scnp. '^I- fe318 



Engravings. Lam. Diet., 1- P- 353. ; I".. 624. f 3. ; 



N. Du Ham., 1. t.ai ; Schmidt Arb., t. 119.; 



Krause, t. 105. ; and omfig. 318. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaflets obovate, emar- 



ginate, glaucous. Peduncles bearing 



4 — 5 flowers. Callosities of the 



standard obtuse, very small. Legumes 



opening at the tip. Corolla, in 



colour, between red and saffron-co- 

 loured, w^th a yellow spot at the base 



of the standard. {Dec. Prod., ii. 



p. 270.) A shrub, like the former, 



but of smaller dimensions, and with 



leaflets more glaucous, and more re- 



tuse. A native of the Archipelago, 



Georgia, and the Levant. It was in- 

 troduced into England in 17.31, and 



produces its reddish copper-coloured 



flowers in June and July. Plants are 



common in the nurseries, and they 



are sold at the same prices as plants of 



the preceding species, 

 a 3. C. (a.) me'dta Willd. The intermediate Colutea, or Bladder Senna. 

 Identification. Willd. Enum., 771. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 270. ; Wat,. Dend. Brit..t. 140. ; Don'. Mill., 



2 p "45 

 Engraving. Wats. Dend. Brit., t. 140. 



Spec Char Sfc. Leaflets obcordate, glaucescent. Peduncles usually 6-flowered 

 Leaumes closed at the apex. Flowers orange-coloured. {Don's Mill., u. 

 n 245 ) A shrub, rather larger than the precedmg sort, and differing from 

 it chiefly in having orange-coloured flowers. It is, perhaps, a hybrid be- 

 tween the two preceding sorts. 



