PEA AND BEAN TRIBE 65 



15. Ornithopus (Bird's-foot). Legume curved, divided into 

 many equal-sided joints, each of which contains a seed ; keel small, 

 obtuse. (Name from the Greek, ornis, a bird, and pons, a foot, to 

 which the tufts of seed-vessels bear a singular resemblance.) 



16. Hippocrepis (Horse-shoe Vetch). Legume composed of nu- 

 merous crescent-shaped joints, so that each legume has many deep 

 notches on one side ; keel narrowed into a beak. (Name from the 

 Greek, hippos, a horse, and crepis, a shoe, from the form of the 

 joints of the seed-vessels.) 



17. Oxobrychis (Saint-foin). Legume straight, i-celled, 1- 

 seecled, not opening, the lower edge fringed or winged. (Name 

 from the Greek, onos, an ass, and brycho, to bray, it being supposed 

 that the smell excites braying.) 



1. Ulex (Furze) 



1. U. Europeans (Common Furze, Gorse, or Whin). Brads ovate, 

 not adhering closely to the calyx ; branches copiously beset with 

 branched thorns. A much-branched, spreading shrub, almost leaf- 

 less, except in its seedling state, when the leaves are composed of 

 3 narrow, soft leaflets. It attains maturity in about four years, 

 but in sheltered places continues to grow until it reaches a height 

 of from 12 to 18 feet. Its natural habit is, however, to grow on 

 dry, exposed commons, which, in its flowering season, it covers with 

 a gorgeous sheet of golden blossoms, entirely concealing its some- 

 what unsightly branches. Perhaps no plant is so broadly charac- 

 teristic of English scenery and the English climate as " Yellow 

 Whin." It does not thrive in hot countries, and if removed to a 

 much colder climate pines and dies ; it is rare even in the Highlands 

 of Scotland. The seed-vessels burst elastically in hot weather with 

 a crackling noise, scattering the seeds on all sides. The calyx-teeth 

 of this species are so closely united as to be scarcely visible. 

 Fl. February to June. Shrub. 



A variety has been found in Ireland which does not flower freely, 

 and also differs from the common form in having a soft and succu- 

 lent instead of a rigid habit. This variety has been cultivated with 

 success as fodder for sheep and oxen. A double-flowered variety is 

 common in gardens. 



2. U. nanus (Dwarf Fur/.e). Calyx-teeth spreading ; bracts very 

 minute, closely pressed to the calyx. A very distinct species from 

 the last, with which, however, it is sometimes confounded. It may 

 readily be distinguished by the above characters, by its being 

 smaller in all its parts, by the spreading wings of its orange-golden 

 flowers, which, moreover, usually appear at the same season with 

 the heath, a plant with which it loves to intertwine its branches. 

 Fl. August to November. Shrub. 



