THE LABURNUM 



685 



gorse, and amongst trees the Laburnum 

 and Garden Acacia. It is not only 

 distinguished by its fruit, but also by 



TRUNK AND BARK OF LABURNUM. 



its flowers. These, with modifications, 

 may be described as having wing-like 

 petals, suggestive of a butterfly's wings, 

 and boat -like petals, which by the union 

 of two constitute a very fair 

 representation of a boat's keel. 

 An examination of these flowers, 

 and comparison of one kind 

 with another, are of special 

 interest as showing the various 

 adaptations and devices by 

 which their fertihsation by in- 

 sects is governed and accom- 

 plished. 



The Laburnum, so common 

 as a small tree in gardens, can 

 never be mistaken when in 

 bloom. Its branches, curving 

 with the weight of their droop- 

 ing yeUow tassels, suggestive of 

 " golden rain," make it familiar 

 and a favourite. It is not a 

 native tree, but it is completely 

 naturahsed. Yet it is seldom, 



87 



if ever, found growing wild. 

 This is the more remarkable 

 from the fact that its seeds 

 readily germinate, and its 

 seedlings spring up freely as 

 garden weeds. A suggested 

 explanation is that, in the 

 open, these seedlings never 

 escape the attention of the 

 rabbits, to whom they prove 

 a dainty morsel. 



The bark is smooth, even- 

 tually peeling off in trans- 

 verse strips. The twigs are 

 green, becoming greyish as 

 their outer skin flakes off. 

 The buds are arranged spi- 

 rally on the twigs. They 

 have three scales, and are 

 coated with silky hairs. The 

 leaves are compound, having 

 three leaflets. These are 

 elliptical in shape, and with- 

 out marginal teeth. Their 

 under surface is ])ale and 

 silky. They are attached by 

 very short stalks to the end 

 of a long main stalk, but 

 as dv'arf shoots are very 

 numerous the leaves usuallv 

 appear tufted. 



The flowers are congre- 

 gated in the form of clus- 

 tered tassels. These droop 

 gracefully, but each indi\'idual flower, 

 when expanded, stands out Imrizontafly 



LABURNUM 

 TWIG. 



LABURNUM LEAVES. 



