GENISTA 591 



unduly shaded. It is also useful for the rock garden, and for covering dry, 

 sunny banks. 



G. RADIATA, Scopoli. 

 (Cytisus radiatus, Koch ; Enantiosparton radiatum, Koch.} 



A rounded, bushy shrub, 3 ft. high, with deciduous leaves, but evergreen 

 from the colour of the shoots. Branches opposite, distinctly grooved, slender, 

 occasionally spine-tipped, very distinctly jointed. Leaves opposite, trifoliolate, 

 stalkless, consisting of three narrowly linear leaflets ^ to ^ in. long, silky. The 

 flowers are in a terminal head of about six blossoms and about I in. across ; 

 each flower is ^ in. long, deep yellow ; petals and calyx silky. Pods silky, 

 ovate, tapering at the end to a sharp curved point, usually one-seeded. 



Native of Central and S. Europe ; introduced from Italy in 1758. This 

 interesting and distinct shrub, peculiar for its thicket of slender branchlets, 

 mostly thinner than a knitting needle, is not very common, but sometimes 

 makes a good display of bloom in June. It is of interest botanically in being 

 one of the few Genistas with opposite branches and leaves. In general appear- 

 ance it bears some resemblance to the shrubby horsetails (Ephedra). 



G. SAGITTALIS, Linnaus. 



A prostrate shrub, under I ft. in height, and evergreen from the character 

 of its green, foliaceous, winged branches. Stems with a slender, woody core, 

 but edged on each side with a membranous wing, sometimes continuous up 

 the stem, sometimes interrupted at the joints, the stem thus becoming flat and 

 and nearly J in. wide. Leaves few and scattered, oval or ovate, \ to f in. 

 long, hairy. Raceme erect, terminal, cylindrical, I to \\ ins. long, hairy. 

 Flowers closely packed, each \ in. long, yellow, the petals expanding but 

 little ; calyx hairy. Pods | in. long, silky, four- to six-seeded. Blossoms 

 in June. 



Native of Central and S.E. Europe, frequently inhabiting upland pastures. 

 It is very hardy, and thrives well in gardens, where it attracts notice for its 

 pretty flowers and unusual stems. 'It may be used as an edging for borders, or 

 grown in patches in the front of shrubberies. 



G. TINCTORIA, Linnceus. DYER'S GREENWEED. 



In its modern acceptation, this name may be taken to cover a group of allied 

 forms put under one variable species. Plants have been received at Kew 

 under perhaps a score of different specific names ; they differ in certain 

 characters of more or less importance, but still bear a striking resemblance to 

 each other It has been found impossible to fix on permanent characters 

 that would clearly differentiate them, and they have, in consequence, 

 been all included under G. tinctoria. Many are minor forms of the tall, erect 

 dyer's greenweed (G. elatior, Koch}. Others are distinguished by characters 

 defined below. 



G. TINCTORIA (type). A low, often semi-prostrate shrub with creeping 

 roots, usually only a few inches high in a wild state, but up to 2 ft. under 

 cultivation. Stems more or less grooved, clothed with simple, dark green 

 leaves that are linear-lanceolate, \ to I in. long, hairy on the margins. 

 Racemes erect, terminal, each I to 3 ins. long, produced on the shoots of the 

 year from June to September. Owing to the branching of the stems near the 

 top under cultivation, a crowd of racemes is often produced, forming one large 

 panicle. Flowers \ to f in. long, yellow, without hairs ; pod \ to f in. long, 

 smooth, carrying eight to twelve seeds. 



This typical form is very common in the British Isles, especially in poor 



