iii6 



THE NATURE BOOK 



SEED PODS OF BROOM (IMMATURE). 



the persistent calyx, in comparison, 

 is minute. 



This is one of the class of plants 

 that as planta genista gave to our 

 Plantagenets their emblem and cog- 

 nomen. 



THE BROOM 



This besom-like shrub is found 

 generally in rather dry and waste 

 places. It is a frequent inhabitant 

 of steep railway banks, making there 

 a brilliant display in its season of 

 flowering. It has stiff ascending 

 green stems and branches, ribbed 

 and wiry, but there are only a few 

 leaves. The lower leaves are usually 

 compound, having three leaflets, 

 and are attached by short stalks ; 

 those higher u]) are often simple, 

 more lance-shaped, and without 

 stalks. On some branches the leaves 

 are reduced to mere scales, or are 



obsolete. The green stems have, 

 in part, taken over the function 

 of the leaves. The flowers, soli- 

 tary or in pairs, grow out near 

 the ends of the long shoots, 

 where they are combined into 

 long clusters. Their butter- 

 fly-winged petals of bright 

 yellow render them very con- 

 s})icuous. Like those of the 

 Gorse, they secrete no nectar, 

 but sup])ly an abundance of 

 pollen, which is eagerly col- 

 lected by bees. 



By an ingenious contrivance, 

 whilst the bee is filling its 

 pollen baskets from the five 

 short stamens placed centrally 

 in the keel petals, a slight ex- 

 plosion takes place. The long 

 pistil shoots out from the tip 

 of the keel, like a piece of 

 released watchspring, and rubs 

 its stigma over the bee's back. 

 Nearly at the same instant. 



FLOWERS OF BROOM. 

 Three of the flowers have exploded. 



