Genus CLADRASTIS, Raf. 
Leguminacea?. Decandria Monogyma. 
Svst. Nat. Syst. Lin. 
Synonymes. 
Cladrastis, Virgilia, Sophora, Of Authors. 
Derivations. The name Cladrastis, is derived from the Greek dados, a branch, aud rasso, to break in pieces, having refer- 
ence to the brittleness of the branches of this genus. It was called Virgilia by Lamarck, in honor of the poet Virgil, whose 
"Georgics" entitle him to botanic commemoration. The name Sophora, was derived from the Arabic sophero, a papilionaceous 
flowering tree. 
Generic Characters. Calyx protuberant, campanulate, unequally 5-lobed. Petals 5, unequal, unguiculate, 
superior, larger obovate notched, 4-oblong, obtuse, subcordate at the base. Stamens 10, free, unequal, 
filiform. Pistils stipitate, oblong. Style curved, compressed. Stigma acute. Legume stipitale, linear, 
flat, membranaceous, 4 6-seeded. Leaves oddly pinnate. Flowers racemose without bracts. 
HE genus Cladrastis embraces but one species, a native of the 
United States, It was classed by Michaux among the African 
Virgilias, from which it differs in having the calyx bilabiate, 
two of the petals cariniform, the stigma obtuse, and the seeds 
lenticular. To the same natural family belong the Spanish broom, 
(Spartium junceum,) from the fibres of which a very good cloth 
is manufactured, in the south of Europe ; the Laburnum, (Cytisus laburnum,) 
so much admired in ornamental plantations; and the Furze, (Ulex europsea,) 
celebrated among the classical ancients, and cultivated in modern times for 
Hedges, fodder for cattle, underwood, and the protection of game. As a shelter 
to young trees, furze is sometimes sown where acorns, beech, masts, or chesnuts 
are to be sown, or where young trees are to be planted, in order to protect them 
for a few years, till they are grown up, and have sufficient strength to shelter 
me another, when they will overtop the furze, and destroy it. 
