GENISTA 



589 



through the deep green of its crowded twigs and spines. As with others 

 of the spiny group of Genistas, it is not advisable to give it rich or manured 

 soil, otherwise it is apt to grow rank and soft, and during winter the younger 

 parts are apt to to die in patches and spoil the next crop of flowers. A 

 soil of moderate quality, and especially a well-drained, sunny position, suits 

 it best. It can be pro- 

 pagated by seeds and 

 by August cuttings. 

 One of the most indis- 

 pensable shrubs in the 

 south of England. 



G. HORRID.N, 

 De Candollc. 



A dwarf, flat-topped, 

 very spiny shrub of 

 close, tufted habit ; 

 stems grooved, oppo- 

 site, rigid, ending in a 

 sharp spine, and more 

 or less clothed with 

 short silky hairs. 

 Leaves opposite, min- 

 ute, trifoliolate, com- 

 posed of three linear 

 leaflets \ in. or so long, 

 covered with silky 

 hairs. Flowers j- in. 

 long, produced in 

 small tenninal heads, 

 three to eight together, 

 standing just clear of 

 the branches ; yellow. 

 Calyx, flower -stalk, 

 and pod hairy. 



Native of S. W. 

 Europe ; introduced in 

 1821. Although hardy 

 enough, it does not 

 always flower freely, 

 and is not muchgrown. 

 Our climate appar- 

 ently is not sunny 

 enough to develop its 



full beauty. On the mountains of Central Spain, at elevations of 3000 to 

 5000 ft., it is crowded with its short heads of yellow blossom every July. It 

 is one of the interesting group of Genistas with opposite leaves and branches, 

 and does not appear likely to become more than i^ to 2\ ft. high. The 

 whole plant has a silvery grey hue, and forms a dense, cushion-like mass. 



G. MONOSPEKMA, Lamarck. 

 (Retama monosperma, Boissier^) 



A straggling, unarmed shrub, 2 to 4 ft. high in this country, but more than 

 twice as high in its native state : branches very slender, pendent, and rush- 



GENISTA HISPANICA. 



