148 LEGUMINOS^l. 



foliage, and yellow flowers on short stalks. It grows 

 in heathy places and fields, and is used to dye yarn of a 

 yellow colour. Fl. July, August. Shrub. 



3. 6r. pilosa (Hairy Green- weed). Thornless ; leaves 

 narrow, obtuse, the lower ones often inversely heart- 

 shaped, silky beneath ; flowers axillary, on short stalks ; 

 legumes downy. Heathy places, rare. A low shrub, 

 with prostrate stems, which are gnarled and much 

 branched, and small yellow flowers. Fl. May, and again 

 in autumn. Shrub. 



3. SAROTHAMNUS (Broom). 



N l. S. scopdrius (Common Broom). The only British 

 species, well distinguished by its numerous, slender, erect 

 branches, with small scattered leaves of 3 leaflets, and 

 large yellow flowers. The legumes when ripe are nearly 

 black, and hairy at the margin. Fl. June. Shrub. 



* Described by some botanists under the name of 

 Cytisus scopdrius, and by others under that of Spartium 

 scoparium. 



4. ONONIS (Rest-harrow). 



1. 0. arvensis (Common Rest-harrow). Stem shrub- 

 by, hairy ; leaflets oblong ; flowers axillary ; calyx much 

 snorter than the corolla. Barren, sandy places, com- 

 mon, especially near the sea. A very variable plant, 

 sometimes spreading on the ground, and rooting at the 

 joints ; at other times forming a small leafy busk 

 The roots are tough and very long, hence the English 

 name. The branches often terminate in thorns ; the 

 leaves are viscid ; the flowers of a bright rose-colour, 

 and handsome. According to some botanists, several 

 species are included under one name. Fl. all the sum- 

 mer. Perennial. 



* 0. reclindta (Small Spreading Rest-harrow) is a 

 herbaceous species which, as a British plant, occurs only 

 near Tarbert, Galloway. 



