FURZE. — TJlex Euroimus. 



Class DiADELPHiA. Order Decandria. Nat. Ord. Leguminos.r. 

 Pea and Bean Tribe. 



We are accustomed to look upon our common 

 Gorse or Whin as one of the hardiest of plants ; 

 and, growing upon our bleakest commons, and 

 bearing well the sea-breeze, so unfavourable to 

 plants in general, it might really seem to be so. 

 Yet great heat or cold is alike unfavourable to 

 this plant, and it will not thrive further to the 

 south of Europe than Provence, while in the 

 regions of the north it is unknown as a wild 

 flower. In Russia it is sometimes reared in the 

 greenhouse, and it is also regarded in Sweden 

 as a tender plant. What wonder, then, that 

 w^hen the great Swedish naturalist saw our 

 heaths covered with it, it filled him v^dth joy ; 



" For Linnaeus 

 Knelt before it on the sod, 

 For its beauty thanking God." 



The common Eurze is to be seen on almost 

 every heath, and gladdens many a sunny bank. 

 Goldsmith calls it '' the blossomed Eurze, un- 

 profitably gay;" yet it is useful to birds, and 



