74 LEGUMINOS^E. [Genista. 



Cotyledons in germination, rising above the ground, and ac- 

 quiring a green colour. 



1. ULEX. Linn. Furze. 



Calyx of 2 sepals, with a small scale or bracteae on each side at 

 the base. Legume turgid, scarcely longer than the Calyx. 

 Name ; according to Theis its root is ec or ac, a sharp point, in 

 Celtic : whence too arises the French name ajonc or acjonc, 

 a sharp or spiny rush. Diadelphia. Decandria. 



1 . U. europceus, Linn. Common Furze, Whin or Gorse. Caly- 

 cine teeth obsolete, connivent ; bracteas ovate, lax ; branchlets 

 erect. Br. Fl. I . p. 318. E. Fl. v. iii. p. 265. E. Bot. t. 742. 



Heathy places, especially in sandy or gravelly soils. ^ Fl. April, 

 May. b . Shrub three to four or more feet high, with innumerable 

 green striated branches, clothed with acute branching spines, having 

 a few leaves at their base, which are lanceolate, a little hairy, very 

 minute. Calyx pubescent. Corolla bright yellow. The Ulex strictus 

 of Mackay's Cat. of Irish plants, now well known in collections as 

 the Irish furze, appears to be a variety of U. europceus. It is readily 

 distinguished by its compact and upright mode of growth and soft 

 texture, but it rarely produces flowers. It is readily propagated by 

 cuttings, and makes a neat close hedge, where shelter only is required. 

 It was first observed to grow sparingly in the Marquis of London- 

 derry's park, County of Down, above thirty years ago, by Mr. John 

 White. 



2. U. nanus, Forst. Dwarf Furze. Teeth of the calyx lan- 

 ceolate, spreading ; bracteas minute, close pressed ; branches re- 

 clining. Br. Fl. 1. p. 318. E.Fl. v. iil.p. 265. E. Bot. t. 742. 



Dry heaths and hilly places, frequent. Fl. in autumn. T? . Smaller 

 than the last in all its parts. The essential character, according to Sir 

 James E. Smith, consists in the more distinct and spreading calyx- 

 leaves, and the more minute, rounded, close pressed, and often hardly 

 discernible bracteas. 



2. GENISTA. Linn. Green-weed. 



Calyx 2-lipped, upper lip with two deep segments, lower one 

 with three teeth. Standard oblong. Legume flat or turgid, 

 many-seeded. Name ; from Gen, a shrub, in Celtic. 



Diadelphia. Decandria. 



1. G. tinctoria, Linn. Dyer's Green-weed. Unarmed, erect ; 

 leaves lanceolate, nearly glabrous ; branches rounded, striated ; 

 flowers spicato-racemose ; legumes glabrous. Br. Fl. 1. p. 319. 

 E. Fl. v. iii. p. 263. E. Bot. t. 44. 



Thickets and borders of fields. Between Killiney Hill and Bray ; 

 Doctor Allman ; where I have since observed it. Fl. July, Aug. T? . 

 One to two feet high. Leaves rather distant. Flowers on short 

 axillary stalks, crowded about the summits of the branches. The 



