94 BROOM. 



branched with numerous straight, flexible, long, angular, smooth, 

 evergreen twigs. The leaves are ternate and solitary, oblong, 

 downy, and stand on footstalks of different lengths. The 

 flowers are large, papilionaceous, bright yellow, axillary, solitary 

 or in pairs, on simple peduncles longer than the leaves. The 

 calyx is tubular, of a purplish colour, divided transversely into 

 two lips, of which the upper is entire, or with two small teeth, 

 the lower three-toothed. The corolla is composed of five pe- 

 tals ; the vexillum or standard is large, broadly ovate, and 

 reflexed ; the alae or wings are elliptical, spreading, convex, and 

 united with the filaments ; the keel is formed of two petals, 

 connected together at the margin by soft hairs. The filaments 

 are ten, nine of which are united at the base; unequal, incurved, 

 and support oblong, orange-coloured anthers. The germen 

 is compressed, oblong, hairy, supporting a slender, curved style, 

 with an oblong stigma. The legume is flattened, oblong, hairy 

 at the margin, of a deep brown colour, and contains numerous 

 roundish, compressed, shining seeds. Plate 8, fig. 2, (a) the 

 calyx ; (i) stamens ; (c) the pistil ; (</) tlie legume or pod. 



This ornamental shrub grows abundantly in dry sandy pas- 

 tures ; flowering in May and June. 



The generic name is formed from the xuriTOi of the ancient 

 Greeks ; said to have been so denominated from the isle Cyth- 

 nos, one of the Cyclades. 



Qualities and general Uses. — The Broom is applied to 

 many viseful purposes in domestic economy and agriculture. 

 The flower-buds pickled in vinegar have been substituted for 

 capers ; and the roasted seeds have been proposed as a sub- 

 stitute for coffee. The young and tender branches are some- 

 times mixed with hops in brewing. At a little village in Tus- 

 cany, the stems of this plant steeped in the hot springs which 

 occur in the vicinity, furnish a very strong fibre, which is 

 manufactured into coarse cloth and coi'dage. . In order to pro- 

 cure this substance, the branches are cut and laid in the sun ; 

 when they are quite dry, they are tied up in bundles and thrown 

 into the water, being loaded with stones to make them sink, 

 in the same manner as hemp. When the twigs are suflSciently 

 soaked, they are taken out of the water and placed upon a sharj) 

 stone ; the bark is then stripped off, and the fibrous part is 

 well beaten ; when dry it is carded and spun, and used for the 



