Genista.] XXV. PAPILIONACEJE. 103 



distinction from Cytisus and other allied genera, are very differently 

 viewed by different botanists. 



No thorns. Pod narrow, much flattened. 



Corolla and pod without hairs. Branches erect or ascending . 1. O. tinctoria. 



Corolla and pod hairy. Branches mostly prostrate . . , . & O. pilosa. 



Lower branches very thorny. Pod short and inflated . . . 8, G. anglica. 



1. G. tinctoria, Linn. (fig. 229). Dyer's 0., Greenweed. Stems woody, 

 branching and decumbent at the base, the flowering branches erect or 

 ascending, 1 to 1 feet high, hard and stiff, but green. Leaves sessile, 

 from narrow-lanceolate to broadly elliptical or nearly ovate, glabrous 

 or nearly so, and often shining. Flowers in short racemes at the ends 

 of the branches, each one shortly stalked in the axil of a lanceolate 

 bract, with very small bracteoles below the flowers. Calyx short, all 

 the teeth ending in a short, fine point, the upper 2 broadly lanceolate, 

 the 3 lower very narrow. Petals about 6 lines long. Pod nearly an inch 

 long^ flattened, and quite glabrous. 



In pastures, thickets, and waste places, throughout central and 

 southern Europe, across Kussian Asia to the Baikal, and northward to 

 southern Sweden. Frequent in the greater part of 'England, south of 

 Scotland only, and rare in Ireland. Fl. summer, rather early. The 

 common form is erect, with lanceolate leaves ; in rich meadows it be- 

 comes very luxuriant with ovate leaves ; in dry rocky soils the stem is 

 more branched, and almost prostrate, like the O. pilosa, from which it 

 is always known by its more pointed leaves, and glabrous flowers and 

 pods. [A decumbent hairy form found in Dorset and Cornwall is var. 

 prostrala, Bab.] 



2. G. pilosa, Linn. (fig. 230). Hairy 0. Stems woody and pros- 

 trate, with numerous short, hard branches. Leaves shortly obovate 

 or lanceolate, obtuse, glabrous above, but covered underneath with 

 short, silky hairs. Flowers smaller than in. 0. tinctoria, of a bright 

 yellow, on short pedicels in the axils of the last year's leaves. Calyx 

 silky. Petals also covered outside with silky hairs. Pod rather shorter 

 and broader than in 0. tinctoria, thickly covered with longish hairs, 

 which are appressed and silky when young, more spreading as the pod 

 ripens. 



In pastures, heaths, and dry, gravelly or stony places, common in 

 central and southern Europe to the Caucasus, extending northward to 

 southern Sweden. Bare in Britain, and only found south of Pembroke- 

 shire on the west, and Suffolk on the east of England. Fl. spring or 

 early summer. 



3. G. anglica, Linn. (fig. 231). Needle O., Petty Whvn.A. small, 

 loosely branched, spreading shrub, seldom a foot high, perfectly glabrous, 

 the lower branches converted into short, but slender, simple or branched 

 thorns. Leaves small, lanceolate or ovate. Flowers few, in short, leafy, 

 racemes, paler and smaller than in 0. tinctoria; the teeth of the calyx 

 less unequal ; 'the petals narrow, and often turning green in drying. 

 Pods about 6 lines long, broad, and much inflated. 



On heaths, moors, and bushy pastures, in western Europe, extending 

 eastward to Denmark and north-western Germany. Frequent in England 

 and the greater part of Scotland, but not recorded from Ireland. Fl. 

 and early summer, and sometimes ayain later in the yeor. 



