THE FLORA 111 



species are easily recognised by their characteristic "pea- 

 flowers " ; the fruit is commonly a pod, more or less resemb- 

 ling that of the pea or bean. The properties of the order 

 are most varied ; some, as Peas (Peasair), Beans (Ponair), 

 Lentils (Grain-Fheileog, I.), etc., being valuable food-plants, 

 others (Liquorice = Maide-milis) are medicinal, not a few 

 being poisonous. Other species furnish valuable wood, 

 fibres, dyes (Indigo = Guirmein), gums, resins, oils, tan, etc. 

 Clover, Vetch, Lucerne, Sainfoin (Coirm Coilig, I.) are 

 cultivated as forage plants. The little swellings commonly 

 seen on the roots of leguminous plants are inhabited by 

 " bacteroids " which have the power of drawing on the free 

 nitrogen of the air and passing it on to the plant, with the 

 result that the ground is often richer in nitrogen after a 

 leguminous crop than it was before. In the tropics, the 

 order is represented by gorgeous flowering trees, which, after 

 the flowering period, produce pods several feet in length. 

 Crab's-eyes, Circassian Beads, and other tropical seeds are 

 pretty, and strung by the natives into necklaces and various 

 ornaments. Laburnums (Bealaidh Frangach, I.) and some 

 species of Broom and Genista thrive near the sea and are 

 highly ornamental. Lupins (Searbhan Faolchon, I.) are 

 among the handsomest of early summer-flowering herbaceous 

 plants. 



Ulex, L. 



U. europceus, L. Whin, Furze, or Gorse. Conasg ; 

 Beala'ach. Abundant in places. A green dye is obtained 

 from the bark. The young growths are eaten by cattle, 

 and during the flowering period the plant is reputed to give 

 a rich yellow colour to butter. March. Sometimes sown as 

 a forage plant on the mainland (at the rate of 20 to 30 Ibs. 

 per acre). It was cultivated for this purpose in England as 

 early as 1725, and a century previous to that in Wales. 

 The tops are crushed before giving them to cattle. 



