636 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



A rapid-growing shrub, attaining the height of 

 12 ft. or 14- ft. in 8 or 10 years ; but, in British 

 gardens, not of long duration. It is not un- 

 common in Italy; and on Mount Vesuvius is 

 found even on the ascent to the crater, where 

 there are scarcely any other plants. It grows 

 wild in the warmer parts of Switzerland, and 

 in the south of Germany, and in France ; vary- 

 ing in magnitude according to the soil and the 

 situation. It was introduced in 1570, and pro- 

 duces its yellow flowers from June to August; 

 the flowers are succeeded by large bladder-like 

 legumes, which, as they ripen, become of a red- 

 dish colour, and contain 15 or 20 seeds. These 

 bladders, when pressed, explode with a crack- 

 ling noise. On the Continent, the leaves have 

 been recommended as a substitute for senna, and they are also said to 

 afford a grateful food for cattle. The seeds, in doses of a drachm or two, 

 are said to excite vomiting. In British gardens, the plant is chiefly valuable 

 as a bulky fast-growing shrub, of the easiest culture, and fit for almost 

 any situation. Price, in the London nurseries, 9//. each ; at Bollwyller, 

 50 cents ; and in New York, 37^ cents. 



a 2. C. (A.) CRUE'NTA Alt. The bloody-cowered Colutea, or Oriental Bladder 



Senna. 

 Identification. Ait Hort. Kew., 3. p. 55. ; Dec. Astr., No. 3. ; L'Htfrit Stirp. Nov., 2. t. 41. ; Don's 



317 



?*. Lam. Diet, 1. p. 353. ; 111., 624. f. 3. ; 

 Du'Ham., 1. t.23. ; Schmidt Arb., t. 119.; 

 Krause, t. 105. ; and our fig. 318. 



Spec. Char., Sec. Leaflets obovate, emar- 

 ginate, glaucous. Peduncles bearing 

 4 5 flowers. Callosities of the 

 standard obtuse, very small. Legumes 

 opening at the tip. Corolla, in 

 colour, between red and saffron-co- 

 loured, with a yellow spot at the base 

 of the standard. (Dec. Prod., ii. 

 p. 270.) A shrub, like the former, 

 but of smaller dimensions, and with 

 leaflets more glaucous, and more re- 

 tuse. A native of the Archipelago, 

 Georgia, and the Levant. It was in- 

 troduced into England in 1731, and 

 produces its reddish copper-coloured 

 flowers in June and July. Plants are 

 common in the nurseries, and they 

 are sold at the same prices as plants of 

 the preceding species. 



3. C. (A.) ME'DIA Willd. The intermediate Colutea, or Bladder Senna. 



Tdcntifir.alian. Willd. Enum., 771. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 270. ; Wats. Dend. Brit., 1. 140. : Don's Mill., 



2. p. 245. 

 Kngravmg. Wats. Dend. Brit., t. 140. 



Spec. Char., Sf-c. Leaflets obcordate, glaucescent. Peduncles usually 6-flowered 

 Legumes closed at the apex. Flowers orange-coloured. (Don's Mill., ii. 

 p. 24-5.) A shrub, rather larger than the preceding sort, and differing from 

 it chiefly in having orange-coloured flowers. It is, perhaps, a hybrid be- 

 tween the two preceding sorts. 



f 



