28 WILD FLOWERS. 



broom (S. junceum) whose fibre is frequently sup- 

 posed to be employed in the manufacture of the 

 much celebrated alpergates, or woven shoes, of Spain ; 

 but which, I believe, are really formed of a grass 

 (Macrochloa tenacissima). The name, however, is 

 extended to all such vegetables as might be em- 

 ployed in a manner similar to flax and hemp,* im- 

 plying, in fact, any fibrous plant. The single species 

 which is indigenous to Britain, is now, however, 

 more usually included under the head of Cytisus (C. 

 scopdrius, of Hooker) or of Sarothdmnus ; while, 

 as I have said, it shares almost throughout Europe 

 its historic name of genista with the bright and 

 pretty little Green- weeds, so well known for their 

 valuable dyeing properties. 



The same may be said with regard to the Welsh 

 name, fanadl ; which, simply signifying a plant with 

 pointed twigs or branches, is indifferently applied 

 to the two forms of genista : the prefixed syllable, 

 however, to a certain extent distinguishing between 

 them. Thus while Corfanadl (corr, dwarf), and 

 Banadlos (Mdn^ small) appear to be used to desig- 

 nate either the hairy green-weed (G. pilosa), or the 

 petty- whin (G. dnglica), Aurfanadl (Aur, gold), 

 seems to belong exclusively to the broom (Ci/tisus), 

 as does also the poetic and prettily expressive name 

 of Nelynog-y-waun, " Goldfinch of the meadow/' 



The Cytisus scopdrius is doubtless familiar to 

 most of our readers, as its frequent introduction 

 into gardens and shrubberies, of which it forms a 



* Beckman's " History of Inventions." 



f B, F, and M are reciprocally mutable in the Welsh. 



