XXV. LEGUMINA^CE^E : GENl'STA. 



209 



branches. On the Mediterranean shores, where, in many places, it serves 

 to retain and consolidate the drifting sand. Height 2 ft. to 4 ft. Int reduced 

 in 1670. Flowers white ; June and July. Legume brown ; ripe in September. 



The leaves and young branches are, in these countries, eaten by sheep and 

 goats ; and the twigs are used for tying vines to stakes, or tying up faggots ; 

 and they are also twisted into ropes. 



j* 20. G. spH-flEROCA'RPA Lam. The round-fruited Genista. 



Identification. Lam. Diet., 2. p. 616. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 150. : 



Don's Mill., 2. p. 152. ; Webb Iter Hispan., 50. 

 Synonyme. Spartium sphjerocrpon Lin. Mant. 571. 

 Engravings. Clus. Hist, 1. p. 102. f. 2.; and our fig. 324. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Twiggy, branched. Leaves simple, 

 few, linear, almost glabrous. Flowers in lateral 

 racemes, many in a raceme. Petals glabrous, equal. 

 Legumes ovate, in some measure fleshy, contain- 

 ing 1 2 seeds. Flowers small, and pale yellow. 

 (Dec. Prod.) A twiggy shrub. Native of the 

 South of Europe and North of Africa. Height 

 3 ft. to 4 ft. Introd. 1 73 1 . Flowers yellow ; June 

 and July. Legume brown ; ripe in September. 



324. Genista sphaerocirpa. 



^ 21. G. .ETHNE'NSIS Dec. The Mount Etna Genista. 



p. 17., Sims Bot. Mag. 



Identification. Dec. Prod., 2. p. 150. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 152. 

 Synonymes. Spartiura aethnense Biv. St. Sic. Mant. 2., Rafin. Speech. 



2674. ; SpSrtium trispermum Smith in Rees's Cycl, vol . 32. No. 5. 

 Engravings. Bot. Mag., t. 2674. ; and our Jig. 325. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Upright, very much branched. Leaves 

 simple, few, linear, silky. Flowers in terminal racemes. 

 Petals almost glabrous, nearly equal in length. Legumes 

 obliquely ovate, compressed, containing 2- 3 seeds ; when 

 young, pubescent. (Dec. Prod.) An erect twiggy shrub. 

 Native of the wooded region of Mount Etna, 3000 ft. 

 6000 ft. elevation ; growing with A^cer monspessulanum. 

 (Presl, in Comp. Bot. Mag., vol. i. p. 91.) Height 2 ft. 

 to 4 ft. Introduced in 1816. Flowers yellow ; June and 

 July. Legume brown ; ripe in September. 



Resembles the preceding species, except that the flowers are twice the size. 

 J: 22. G. ANXA'NTICA Ten* The Anxantic Genista. 



Identification. Ten. Fl. Nap. Prod., p. 41. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 150. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 152. 



Synonyme. G. amsSntica Tenore. 



Engravings. Fl. Nap., 2. p. 127. t. 66. ; Swt. Fl.-Gar., 2d ser. t. 266. ; and our figs. 326. and 327. 



325. Genista aethnfcnsis 



336. Genista anxintica. 



327. Genista anxantica. 



Spec. Char., Sec. The whole plant is perfectly gla- 

 brous. Stems spreading. Branches angled. 

 Leaves simple, ovate-elliptical, rather coriaceous, 

 veiny. Flowers in racemes. Corolla thrice as 



p 



3?8 Genista a. scarifca. 



