TREES AND SHRUBS. 49 



that grows wild all over Europe, that Geoffrey, Duke 

 of Anjou, the father of Henry II., picked as he was 

 going into battle, and put into his helmet, which gave 

 .the family the name of Plantagenet (planta genista). 

 In reference to this the Rev. Hilderic Friend in his 

 charming book, ' Flowers and Flower-lore/ quotes :- 



' Time was when thy golden chain of flowers 



Was link'd the warrior's brow to bind ; 

 When, reared in the shelter of royal bowers, 

 Thy wreath with a kingly coronal twined. 



' The chieftain who bore thee high in his crest 



And bequeath'd to his race thy simple name, 

 Long ages past has sunk to his rest, 



And only survives in the role of thy fame. 



TV ^"r -Jv 1 T\- TV 



The storied urn may be crumbled to dust, 

 And time may the marble bust deface ; 

 But thou wilt be faithful and firm to thy trust, 

 The memorial flower of a princely race/ 



But to return to the G. (.etnensix. In June and 

 July when in bloom, and its long slender shoots are 

 laden with golden blossoms, it is certainly one of the 

 most beautiful shrubs in existence, but it has very few 

 leaves even when young, and when old these disappear 

 altogether. It is a loose and graceful upright bush 



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